
"K/IIC, ^i"">- 



Illustrated 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



YOUNG FOLKS' 



LIFE OF 



JESUS CHRIST 



Josephine Pollard 

AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE: 
"HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE;" 
" BATTLES OF AMERICA IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE ; " 
" THE BIBLE AND ITS STORY; " ETC. 



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GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, Limited 

New York: 9 Lafayette Place 

London, Glasgow and Manchester 



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Copyright, 1891, by 
JOSEPH L. BLAMIRE 



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£§e Carton (press 

171, 173 Macdougal Street, New York 



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CONTENTS 



Chapter I. page 
The Birth of Jesus 1 

Chapter II. 
The Boyhood of Jesus _ 22 

Chapter III. 
Jesus Comes Out of Nazareth — His Baptism and Temptation 45 

Chapter IV. 

The First Disciples — The Miracle at Cana — The Passover Feast — 
Driving out the Money-Changers — Nicodemus 57 

Chapter V. 

The Woman of Samaria — Jesus in Galilee — Healing of the Noble- 
man's Son — Rejected at Nazareth _ 73 

Chapter VI. 

Jesus in Galilee — He Preaches from a Boat — The Calling of Mat- 
thew — Choosing the Twelve— The Sermon on the Mount 87 

Chapter VII. 

The Sermon on the Mount (Continued) — The House Built Upon a 
Rock.. 104 

Chapter VIII. 

Healing the Leper — The Centurion's Servant — The Widow of Nain 
—Mary Magdalene. 113 

Chapter IX. 

Jesus at the Seaside — He Teaches in Parables — The Sower — The 
Wheat and the Tares — Grain of Mustard Seed — Hidden Leaven 
— Hidden Treasure— The Pearl of Price— The Drag Net— The 
Storm on the Lake— The Herd of Swine 128 

Chapter X. 

Healing of the Paralytic — Matthew's Feast — The Raising of Jai- 
rus's Daughter — Two Blind Men — The Dumb Demoniac- 
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles 141 

in 



IV CONTENTS. 



Chapter XI. page 

The Pool of Bctliesda — Healing of the Helpless Cripple — The Dis- 
course that Followed — Jesus Returns to Galilee — Twelve Apos- 
tles Sent Out— The Murder of J ohn the Baptist 156 

Chapter XII. 

Five Thousand Fed — Jesus Walks on the Sea — The Discourse at 
Capernaum about Eating with Unwashed Hands 169 

Chapter XIII. 

In the Cornfield — The Lord's Prayer — The Blind and Dumb De- 
moniac — The Pharisees Ask for a Sign — Jesus Dines with Scribes 
and Pharisees — Unwashed Hands — Anger of His Enemies — The 
Parable of the Rich Fool— Be Ye Also Ready 183 

Chapter XIV. 

Jesus Leaves Capernaum — The Syro-Phcenician Woman — The 
Deaf-and-Dumb Man — Four Thousand Fed — Caesarea Philippi 
— Peter's Confession __ 198 

Chapter XV. 

The Transfiguration — Healing the Lunatic Boy — Which Shall Be 
Greatest ?— The Tribute Money— The Ninety and Nine— Jesus 
Rejected by the Samaritans—" I Go Not Up Yet to the Feast " 206 

Chapter XVI. 

The Feast of Tabernacles — The Speech Near the Treasury — The 
Jews Pick Up Stones to Throw at Him 223 

Chapter XVII. 

The Man Born Blind — The Parable of the Sheep-fold — Jesus Says 

' ' I am the Door" — He Leaves Galilee 236 

Chapter XVIII. 

In Perea — Who is my Neighbor ? — Parable of the Good Samaritan 
—The Man with the Dropsy— The Great Supper— The Lost 
Sheep— The Lost Piece of Money— The Lost Son.. 248 

Chapter XIX. 

Parable of the Unjust Steward— Dives and Lazarus — The Coming 
of the Kingdom — Is it Lawful ? Suffer Little Ones to Come 
. Unto Me— The Unmerciful Servant 260 

Chapter XX. 

Bethany — Martha and Mary — " The Good Part " — Jesus Goes 
Again to Perea — The Master Calleth Thee — Lazarus is Raised 
from the Dead — The High-Priest Prophesies— Jesus Retires to 
the City of Ephraim *. 273 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter XXI. page 

On the Way to Jerusalem — The Ten Lepers — The Sons of Zebedee 
— Jericho — Zaccheus — Blind Bartirnaes — Parable of the Ten 
Pounds — The Feast at Bethany — Mary's Offering — The Rage 
of Judas.. 287 

Chapter XXII. 

Bethpage — The Entry into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday — Hosanna — 
The Boys in the Temple — The Barren Fig-tree — Who Gave 
Them Authority ? — The Two Sons — The Wicked Husbandmen 
—The Chief Corner Stone—" Shall We Pay Tribute to Caesar ?" 
— Jesus Near the Treasury — The Poor Widow — The Sadducees 
Ask Questions — Jesus Bids Farewell to the Temple _ . 298 

Chapter XXIII. 

Parable of the Ten Virgins — Ten Talents — Picture of the Last Day 
— "Inasmuch as Ye Did it not to Me" — The Paschal Feast — 
' ' Lord, Is it I ? "—The Traitor Made Known 319 

Chapter XXIV. 

The Last Supper — Jesus Prays With and For His Disciples — The 
Promise of the Comforter 334 

Chapter XXV. 

In the Upper Room — Gethsemane — The Judas Kiss — Jesus on 
Trial — He is Sent to Pilate — Condemned to Death — Cruelty of 
the Soldiers _ _ 344 

Chapter XXVI. 

The Way to the Cross — The Crucifixion — The Burial — The Ascen- 
sion — " He is Risen" 364 

Chapter XXVII. 

Easter Sunday — The Women at the Tomb — Peter and John — Why 
WeepestThou? — The Walk to Emmaus — Jesus Shows Himself 
to His Disciples — Doubting Thomas — The Heavy Net — "Feed 
My Lambs "—The Day of Pentecost 384 



LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. 



Jesus Carrying His Cross (Frontispiece). page 

The Star of the East -- ..- 1 

Plan of Jerusalem at the Time of King Herod 2 

The Angel Appearing to Mary 3 

Houses in Bethlehem _ ___ 7 

The Shepherds at Night.. 9 

The Birth of Jesus.... 11 

Simeon in the Temple 13 

The Child Jesus.... 15 

Nazareth 18 

The Magi Before Herod. 19 

Houses in Nazareth 21 

The Wise Men Before Herod 23 

Roll of the Pentateuch 26 

The Flight into Egypt 27 

Cylinder Holding the Pentateuch _ 29 

View of Jerusalem 31 

Walls of Jerusalem 33 

The Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem 34 

Restitution of the Temple 35 

Interior of St. Stephen's Gate, Jerusalem 37 

Passover Cake . 38 

Portion of the Temple Wall 39 

Representation of the Face of Our Lord 42 

Jesus in the Temple „ __ 43 

General View of the Tabernacle. 47 

John the Baptist 49 

Son, Why hast Thou thus Dealt with Us? 51 

Jesus in His Youth 55 

The Temptation 59 

John the Baptist Preaching 63 

Driving the Sellers from the Temple 66 

The Marriage at Cana 67 

The Woman of Samaria __ 75 

The High Priest 80 

Colossal Lamp 82 

The Ark 83 

VII 



VIII LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

A Levite 84 

Table of Shew-bread . 85 

Eastern Lamps 86 

Phylacteries - 87 

South End of the Sea of Galilee 88 

On the Sea of Galilee _ 89 

Jesus and Peter 92 

Jesus Curing the Sick 93 

Shepherd and the Lamb 97 

The Sermon on the Mount 101 

The House Built Upon a Rock 111 

Christ, and the Centurion 115 

Eastern Bier 116 

The Widow's Son Brought to Life 117 

Sidon at the Present Day 121 

Magdalene, Anointing the Feet of Jesus 125 

The Sower. . _ 129 

The Enemy Sowing Tares __ _ 131 

Leaven _ _ 133 

Seeking Great Pearls _. _ 134 

Parable of the Net.. 136 

Stilling the Tempest 137 

Jesus and the Demoniac. - 139 

The -Paralytic Cured 143 

Cured by Touching His Garment 145 

The Raising of Jairus's Daughter 149 

The Pool of Bethesda 157 

Salome Before Herod : 165 

Herodias With the Head of John the Baptist _ 168 

Feeding the Multitude 171 

Jesus Walking on the Sea. .. 173 

Christ the Consolator 179 

In the Cornfields 184 

The Withered Hand 185 

Jesus and the Syro-Phocnician Woman 199 

Jesus Blesses the Children 211 

Peter and the Tribute-Money 215 

The Sending Out of the Seventy 217 

Sidon .220 

Waving the Branches at the Feast of the Tabernacles. 227 

The Pool of Siloam 237 

The Unfruitful Tree 246 

The Great Feast 251 

The Lost Sheep , ,..,.... , 255 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATION'S. IX 

PAGE 

The Prodigal's Return 258 

The Unjust Steward 261 

The Rich Man and the Beggar 265 

He Put His Hands Upon Them 271 

Mary and Martha . . _ 274 

Bethany ._."„ 275 

Resurrection of Lazarus 285 

Jesus and Zaccheus 291 

Mount of Olives 299 

The Entry into Jerusalem 301 

Moonlight on the Mount of Olives 305 

Give to Caesar that which is Csesar's 311 

The Widow's Mite 313 

Jesus Weeping Over Jerusalem . _ _ 317 

The Foolish Virgins 321 

The Talents 324 

Judas Bargaining to Betray Jesus 329 

The Last Supper 335 

In the Garden of Gethsemane 345 

Judas Betrays Christ 349 

Christ Before Pilate 359 

The Whipping Post 362 

Scourge 363 

Jesus Crowned With Thorns 365 

Carrying the Cross 366 

The Crucifixion ._ 367 

Aceldama, or The Field of Blood _ . 371 

The Descent from the Cross 375 

Laying Jesus in the Tomb 377 

"He is Risen" .... 379 

Jesus Appearing to Mary Magdalene . _ ... 381 

The Incredulity of Thomas 387 

Jesus Shows Himself to his Disciples 389 

The Coming of the Holy Ghost 393 

The Ascension . . . _ 397 



PREFACE. 

The Life of our Lord Jesus Christ is so woven through the 
Old and New Testaments, that one must read from Genesis 
to Revelation in order to gain a correct knowledge of his 
wonderful history. Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph? 
Joshua, Samuel, David, and others knew him by faith. He 
was to them a present help in time of trouble. The Prophets 
foretold the coming of One who was to be mightier than any 
king upon the throne, wiser and holier than any priest or 
prophet, and more kind and faithful than any friend and 
brother man had ever known. This God-man was sent into 
the world to make peace between God and men. He was 
born among them, lived among them, saw their sinful ways, 
and knew the wickedness of their hearts. Now there is no 
power on earth so strong as love. It will conquer when all 
else fails. The reason why men had fallen away from God 
was because they were afraid of him. They bowed their 
heads and prostrated their bodies, and pretended to be good, 
but their hearts were hard, and they did evil all their days. 
Jesus came to teach them and us to lead better lives, to love 
God, and to do his will like children, and not like slaves ; and 
he was an example to them and to us in his life and in his 
death. 

As we follow him from Bethlehem to Calvary — from the 
Cradle to the Grave — and witness his sorrow in the Garden of 
Gethsemane, we realize somewhat the depth of a Saviour's 
love, and are amazed at his mercy and forgiveness. The 
author of this simplified story of Jesus has been greatly 
helped in her work by Canon Farrer's " Life of Christ," and 
Edersheim's "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah," and 
yet in spite of her efforts she is deeply conscious that "the 
half has not been told," J. P. 




THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 

The Jewish race had long been slaves, and were 
compelled to pay taxes to other nations. For a time, 
they had had kings of their own ; bnt their reign came 
to an end. The Twelve tribes were scattered, and those 
that had kept together were nnder the dominion of 
the Emperor of Rome, with Herod as their governor. 

But the Jews had great faith in the Word of God, 
as contained in the Books of the Old Testament, and 
in several there was mention made of a star that was 
to rise in the East and flood with light the whole Jew- 
ish nation. 

There were magicians in those days who studied 
the stars, and read the open page of the sky as if it 
were the Book of Fate. Certain stars foretold great 
wars or a long term of peace, and were consulted in 
regard to business affairs, or the taking of a journey. 



2 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

The houses in the East had flat roofs, and it was 
easy for men to gather there at night to talk over the 
aifairs of the day, and to watch the stars come ont one 




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PLAN OF JERUSALEM AT THE TIME OF KING HEROD. 



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erod's Temple. 



i. Temple of Solomon. 

2. Palace of Solomor 

3. Added by Herod. 

4. Exhedra. 

5. Antonia. 

6. Cloisters joining Antonia to Temple. 

7. Xystus. 



8. Agrippa's Palace. 

9. Zion. 

to. Lower Pool of Gihon. 

11. Herod's Palace. 

12. Bethesda. 

[3. Bridge built by Herod. 
[4. The Lower City. 



by one in the clear, blue sky above. They faced the 
East always at prayer time, and at night directed their 
gaze to this quarter, from whence a star Avas to rise 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 5 

that would be like no other star that the eye of man 
had ever seen. 

Night after night, for years and years, the Jews had 
watched the scroll outspread above them, and had 
faith to believe that, although they might die without 
the sight, there was still some good in store for the 
children of Israel, God's chosen people. 

In order that he might know whether the Jews were 
dying out or increasing, the Emperor Augustus had a 
census, or count, taken of them once a year. This 
was not done at their own homes, as was the case in 
Rome, but the Jews were allowed to keep up their old 
custom — of each tribe meeting at the town where its 
family originally belonged. 

As the Jews were scattered all over the land of 
Judea, and not a few of them dwelt in Roman towns 
and villages, the journey they had to take once a year 
was long and distasteful to them. Palestine, or the 
Holy Land, was divided into two parts by the river 
Jordan, and on either side of the deep valley rose the 
limestone rocks that formed the hill country. The 
northern part was called the land of Galilee, and the 
southern the land of Judea, after Judah, one of the 
twelve sons of Jacob. 

In a cleft of the Galilean hills lay the little village 
of Nazareth, mostly inhabited by poor Jews who led 
simple lives, and attended diligently to their various 
trades. Among these people was one, Joseph, a car- 
penter, and his wife, Mary. 

Some months before an angel had come to Mary, and 
told her that she would give birth to a child, who 
should be called Jesus, because he was to save the 
people from their sins. Mary could not understand 
just what was meant, but she put her trust in God, and 
waited patiently. 

Both Joseph and Mary were of the house of David ; 
and when the time came for the roll to be called, they 



6 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

had to go from tlieir home in Nazareth to Bethlehem 
of Judea, a small town about six miles south of Jeru- 
salem. The name, Bethlehem, means House of Bread, 
and was probably given because of its fertile fields 
that bore rich crops of grain. 

Tired out with the long, slow journey, there was 
still quite a steep hill for Mary to climb before she 
reached Bethlehem, and the inn where she hoped to 
rest. Many had passed them on the road, bent on the 
same errand, and as "first come, first served" is the 
rule in all inns, the rooms were all taken by the time 
that Joseph and Mary arrived. 

It was a winter's night, and the air was chill, and a 
nice room and soft bed would have been most welcome 
to the weary travelers. But they were crowded out ; 
there was no room for them at the inn. Outside were 
sheds where the cattle were fed and put up for the 
night, and into one of these Mary and Joseph went 
and made themselves as comfortable as they could. 

That same night, Jesus was born, and Mary, with her 
own hands, wrapped the child in swaddling clothes, 
as the loose bands of cloth were called, and no one at 
the inn knew of what had taken place. 

So it is in the world at all times. Jesus comes to a 
heart and asks to be taken in. There is no room for 
him. He is crowded out. But away from the gay halls 
of pride and wealth there is a poor soul who feels very 
humble and unworthy. She has nothing to offer in 
return for the honor but a warm welcome, and that is 
enough. Here Jesus is born, and the Avhole place 
illumined ; and the heart which was once full of dust 
and chaff is now swept and garnished as the palace of 
a King. 

Off on one of the hills of Judea a group of shepherds 
kept watch of their flocks, lest they should be carried 
off by the thieves or robbers that infested those 
regions. All through the calm, still hours of the night 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 9 

they remained on guard, while the stars twinkled on 
high, and gave no sign of what was near at hand. 

All at once a great light shone around them, so 
dazzling they were sore afraid. And in the midst of 
this light was an angel, who drew near them and said : 
" Fear not ; for I bring you glad tidings of great joy. 
For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a 
Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a 
sign to you ; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swad- 
dling clothes lying in a manger." 




THE SHEPHERDS AT NIGHT. 

And, suddenly, there stood near the angel a multi- 
tude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying : 
" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 
good- will toward men ! ' ' 

When the angels had gone back into heaven, the 
shepherds said to one another : "Let us go at once to 
Bethlehem and see this thing which the Lord hath 
made known to us." With the simple faith of little 
children, glad and willing to obey, they set out in 
great haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the 
babe lying in a manger. 



io THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

This was the sign they sought ; and when they had 
seen it they made known abroad the words the angels 
had spoken to them concerning this child, and those 
who heard, wondered at the story the shepherds told, 
and talked much about this, the first gospel message. 
They might go their ways and forget, but Mary re- 
membered all that was said, and pondered over them 
in her heart. And the shepherds went back to their 
flock, giving thanks and praise to God for all that they 
had seen and heard. 

At the end of forty days, Mary took Jesus in her 
arms and went with him to the Temple to present him 
to the Lord. It was customary, on such an occasion, 
to offer a young lamb as a burnt- off ering, and a young 
pigeon, or turtle-dove, as a sin-offering. Mary was 
too poor to provide herself with a lamb — she needed it 
not, for in her arms she bore the Lamb of God, who 
was to take away the sins of the world — and so took 
instead two young pigeons, and in a humble and de- 
vout manner she presented herself before the priest. 

There was at this time in Jerusalem a holy man 
named Simeon. He was very old, but the spirit of 
God had made known to him that he should not die 
until he had seen the Messiah. 

On a certain day a sudden impulse led him to the 
Temple, and when Joseph and Mary brought in the 
child Jesus, Simeon recognized him at once as the 
Light that was to shine in the world. Then he took 
the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said: 
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, 
according to thy word ; for mine eyes have seen thy 
salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of 
all people ; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the 
glory of thy people Israel.' 7 

And the child's father and mother wondered at the 
things which were spoken concerning him. And Sim- 
eon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother : 




THE BIEXH OF J53US, 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 



13 



" Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising of 
many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken 
against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own 




SIMEON IN THE TEMPLE. 



soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be 
revealed." 

This referred to the death of Jesus on the shameful 
cross — the grief that would be like a sword in Mary's 



14 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

heart — and the hatred that would be shown by the 
foes of Jesus. 

There was living in Jerusalem one Anna, a proph- 
etess, who had now reached the age of eighty-four 
years. She had been a widow for the greater part of 
her life, and now devoted all her time to religious 
exercises, spending many hours of each day in the 
Temple. She came in at the very moment when 
Simeon took the young child in his arms, and gave 
thanks to God, and spoke of Jesus to all those who 
waited for the redemption of Jerusalem. And when 
all these things were done, Joseph and Mary returned 
to Bethlehem, and made their home there for some 
little time. 

Now there were in the East three wise men, who, 
having seen the strange star in the sky, determined 
to take it as their guide and follow where it lead them. 
The Greek name for those scholars was Magi, and 
even kings were wont to consult them in regard to 
their affairs. They first bent their steps towards Jeru- 
salem, and when they reached the city they asked 
of this one and that one, " where is he that is born 
King of the Jews % for we saw his star in the East and 
have come to worship him." We are not told that 
these three men came from the same place. It is not 
likely that they knew each other at all, but having 
seen the same new star, and come to Jerusalem on the 
same errand, they were naturally drawn together and 
became great friends. And this is the case with all 
those who set out to find Jesus. 

Now Herod had been made Governor of all Judea, 
and his word was law among the Jews. He had ruled 
them with a rod of iron the better to please his own 
master, the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, from 
whom he hoped to receive some great reward. 

When Herod, the King, heard of the wise men, and 
the question they asked, he was greatly troubled, for 




THE CHILD JESUS BROUGHT TO THE TEMPLE. 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 17 

he feared lie was about to lose his power and position. 
The Jews in Jerusalem were likeAvise in a great state 
of alarm, lest Herod, because of his jealousy, should 
be driven to great acts of cruelty. Gathering together 
all the chief priests and scribes, Herod inquired of 
them Avhere the Christ they believed in was to be 
born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea," for 
so it had been written by the prophet Micah. 

Then Herod privately called the wise men, and 
learned of them exactly when the star appeared. And 
he sent them to Bethlehem, and said: " Go and search 
diligently for the young child, and when ye have 
found him, bring me word that I also may come and 
worship him." 

When they had heard the King, they went their 
way ; and lo, the star which they saw in the East 
went on before them till it came and stood over the 
place where the young child was. And when they 
saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 
And coming into the house they saw the young child 
with Mary, his mother ; and they fell down and wor- 
shiped him, and opening their treasures presented 
him costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 
And being warned of God in a dream that they should 
not return to Herod, they went by another way into 
their own country. 

After the departure of the wise men, an angel of 
the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying : 
"Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and 
flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell thee what 
to do : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy 
him." 

Egypt was near, and, though a Roman province, 
was not under Herod's control. Many Jews resided 
there, and it was an easy and convenient place of 
refuge. 

Joseph did not delay, but rose the same night, and 



18 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

took the young child and his mother, and departed 
into Egypt. 

Herod was very angry, indeed, at the way in which 
he had been trilled with by the wise men, and there- 
fore sent forth officers to put to death all the male 
children in Bethlehem and the borders thereof, from 
two years old and under. So dreadful were his 
crimes that it is easy to believe that only for this rea- 






NAZARETH. 

son did he inquire so particularly when the star was 
first seen, for in that way could he reckon the age of 
the young child Jesus. 

We may imagine the grief and sorrow there was in 
and around Bethlehem at this time : Mothers weeping 
for the little ones that were torn from their arms and 
put to death in the most cruel manner. Vain were 
tears and prayers. The tyrant's will was law. Those 




THE MAGI BEFORE HEROD. 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 



21 



who heard the wild wail of anguish, may well have 
imagined that Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, who 
was regarded as the mother of the Jewish race, min- 
gled her tears with those so cruelly bereaved. 

But a greater tyrant than himself laid low the 
wicked Herod, and put an end to his fiendish crimes. 
And when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the 
Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, in Egypt, saying : 




HOUSES IN NAZARETH. 

" Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and 
go into the land of Israel, for they are dead who 
sought the young child's life." And Joseph arose 
and took the young child and his mother, and came 
towards the land of Judea. 

But when he heard that Archelaus— the worst one 
of Herod's four sons— reigned in his father's stead, 
he was afraid to return to Bethlehem. 



22 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

So seeking council of God in prayer, lie was led to 
return to Galilee, and took up his abode there in a 
city called Nazareth. 

The name Nazareth meant a shoot or twig ; the city 
was called "the town of shrubs," and those who 
dwelt there were looked down upon and despised by 
the better class of Israelites. 

This was the will of God, that he who was to be 
the Light of the World, should be born in an humble 
manger, and dwell in a lowly city, among those who 
were despised by their fellow-men. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 



How little the Bible tells us of the boyhood of 
Jesus ; and how much we would like to know of 
those early days over which there hangs so deep a 
veil. Each one can picture for himself how the 
Holy Child appeared, and what were his youthful 
sports and pastimes. Nothing is told us, except that 
he grew in wisdom and in stature ; and the infer- 
ence is that he was much like other little boys — 
only better behaved. He was a Holy Child from 
the beginning, and Satan had no power over him. 

Joseph was a carpenter and had to work indus- 
triously at his trade, while Mary found her time 
fully occupied in household duties, and in the care 
of her children. Jesus early became familiar with 
the routine of home-life, the making of bread, the 
filling of the evening lamp, the preparation for the 
regular meals, and also for the Sabbath observances. 




THE WISE MEN BEFORE HEROD. 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 25 

On eacli door-post was a folded bit of parchment 
inscribed with the name of the Most High, and this 
was reverently touched by each one who went in or 
out, and then the lingers kissed that had come in 
contact with this sacred name. This the young 
child could do, even before he had learned to lisp 
a single word, and what light it throws upon many 
passages of Scripture. This name on the door-post 
was a symbol of God's watchful care over the homes 
of Israel, and put into words it meant : ' ' The Lord 
shall preserve thy going out and thy coining in, from 
this time forth, and even for evermore." 

There were many things the Jewish mother could 
do to entertain her young children, and to assist in 
their proper training. She could tell them stories of 
the past, the history of the Jews, and heroic deeds 
of some member of her own tribe; and teach them the 
hymns of the church, and the meaning of various 
symbols made use of in their domestic and public 
worship. 

She taught them to use their eyes and ears, and all 
that they saw and heard made a lasting impression 
upon their minds. 

As soon as the boy learned to speak, the father 
took him in hand to train him in the knowledge of 
the law and of the Scriptures, certain verses of which 
he had to commit to memory. While still very 
young the boy was taught a birthday-text, some 
verse of Scripture beginning or ending with or at 
least containing the same letters as his Hebrew 
name. 

Then he must learn the Psalms for the days of the 
week, or festive Psalms, or those connected with the 
festive pilgrimages to Zion. 

When the child was between five and six years 
old he was sent to school, and this was considered 
such an important event, that it was deemed unlaw- 



26 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



ful to live in a place where there was no school. 
For a long time it was not uncommon to teach in 
the open air; but, after a while synagogues and schools 
were built, where at hrst the pupils and teachers 




ROLL OF THE PENTATEUCH. 



stood, or else sat on the ground in a semicircle, the 
children facing their teachers. 

Up to ten years of age, the Bible was the only 
text-book, the study of it beginning with the Books 




THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 



29 



of Leviticus. Thence it passed to other parts of the 
Pentateuch, as the first five books of the Bible are 
called ; then to the Prophets, and, finally, to the 

remaining history of 
the Jews, and all the 
traditions of the race. 
Care was taken not 
to send a boy too 
early to school, nor to 
overwork him when 
there. If, after three 
or five years of tui- 
tion, he showed no 
aptitude for books or 
study, it was decided 
that he would not be- 
come a learned man, 
or qualify himself to 
enter the academy. 

We are told that 
there were no learned 
Rabbis at Nazareth at 
any time. We do not 
know quite certainly 
whether there were 
any schools there, but 
if so we may be sure 
that the Child Jesus 
was faithful in his 
attendance, and obe- 
dient to all the rules. 

cylinder holding the pentateuch. All male J ews were 

required to appear in 
Jerusalem at the three yearly feasts, but women were 
only commanded to be present at the Passover feast, 
which celebrated the leading of the Israelites out of 
Egyptian bondage. A boy of twelve years of age 




30 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

became a Son of the Law, and was henceforth bound 
to obey the law in all that it required. 

It was in the spring of the year that Jesus, for the 
first time, went up with his parents to the Paschal 
feast at Jerusalem. It was a long, journey, and full 
of danger, for robbers frequented the roads, and lay 
in wait for all travelers. Therefore, merchants and 
Pilgrims united together in large bands, the women, 
aged men, and young children riding on camels or 
mules, while the men and youths went mostly on 
foot, occasionally getting a lift from their fellow - 
travelers who were glad of a change of exercise. 
The way was beguiled with music and song, relatives 
visited with each other, and the pilgrimage became a 
gala occasion and the chief social event of the year. 

As they drew near to Jerusalem, the festive com- 
pany from Nazareth was increased by other bands, 
and all joined in singing to the accompaniment of the 
fiute, those Psalms of Ascent* which would kindle 
in their hearts a spiritual name, and prepare them 
for the solemn yet joyous services. 

We may imagine with what emotions Jesus gazed 
for the first time on these scenes : the City of Jeru- 
salem, the wonderful Temple on Mount Moriah, and 
the vast crowds gathering there for one purpose. 
The houses, built of white marble, and decorated pro- 
fusely with gold, shone with dazzling magnificence 
under the rays of the noonday sun ; but, above all, 
rising terrace upon terrace, was the Temple itself 
which attracted all eyes, and was an object of admira- 
tion and pride to every Israelite. 

David made pre})arations for building the Temple 
on a royal scale of magnitude and magnificence, but 
did not live to carry them out. The work fell into 
the hands of his son, King Solomon, who was ably 



* Ps. cxx-cxxxiv- 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 



33 



assisted by Hiram, King of Tyre, who furnished cedar- 
trees and fir-trees, and sent men to aid in the work, 
for the love that he bore to King David. The Temple 
was begun B.C. 1012, and was seven years in building. 
The stone was made ready before it was brought there, 
so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any 
tool of iron heard in the house while it was 
building. 

The design of the Temple was suggested by that of 




WALLS OF JERUSALEM. 

the tabernacle, although everything was on a much 
larger scale. Herod made many additions, but the 
Temple of our Lord's time was no less true to the 
plan given to Moses than was the tabernacle itself. 

Solomen's Temple was destroyed by fire, and a new 
one was built on the same site by Zerubbabel, after 
the return of the Jews to the Holy Land. But it was 
far inferior to Solomon's Temple. Herod the Great, 



34 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



who was fond of fine buildings, and wished to add to 
his own glory as well as to the splendor of Jerusalem, 




THE JAFFA GATE, TERUSALEM. 



began rebuilding the Temple in a magnificent style, 

but it was not completed until long after his death. 

Around the main building was a wall of Great 



" ; v, . - j-_ - 





THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 



37 



strength, magnificently adorned with columns, porti- 
coes, and ten entrance gateways of extraordinary 
splendor were on the east, north and south sides. 

Beyond this inner enclosure was the outer, leaving 
an open space or court between the two buildings. 
The outer enclosure was, indeed, a spacious colonnade, 
the columns carrying arches along the entire length 
of the east, west and north sides of the square. This 




INTERIOR OF ST. STEPHEN S GATE, JERUSALEM. 

grand arcade led along the south side of the Temple 
and its courts, and communicating with the city on 
the west, and on the east with the east walk of the 
outer enclosure, it formed the approach to the great 
east entrance to the Temple itself, and was called the 
Royal Poech. 

The east walk of the colonnade of the outer enclos- 
ure, which was opposite to the entrance front of the 
Temple, was distinguished as Solomon's Poech, and 



38 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



enriched with architectural embellishments. The 
outer wall had seven gates, of which the principal are 
the Jaffa Grate, the Damascus Gate, the Stephen's 
Gate and the Zion Gate. North of the outer wall 
stood the Tower of Antonia,Avhich was built by Herod, 
and named after Mark Antony, and communicated di- 
rectly with the Temple by an underground passage way. 
The Passover feast brought many people into Jeru- 
salem, and throngs filled the Temple at all of the ser- 
vices. At the end of the seven days, the caravans 




PASSOVER CAKE. 



were again made up and started off on the homeward 
journey. Jesus was not with Joseph and Mary ; but 
they, supposing he was somewhere in the company 
and would join them at nightfall, gave themselves 
no great uneasiness. But when he failed to appear 
on that day or the next, they began to be anxious and 
sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaint- 
ances ; and, not finding him, they turned back and 
kept looking for him all along the road to Jerusalem. 
They found Jesus at last in the Temple — in one of 
the porches of the court — sitting in the midst of the 




PORTION OF THE TEMPLE WALL. "THE JEWS WAILING PLACE. 



THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS. 41 

learned Rabbis, hearing them and asking them ques- 
tions. And all those who heard him were amazed at 
his understanding and his answers. When his 
parents saw him they were astonished, and his mother 
said to him : ' ' Child, why hast thou treated us in 
this way ? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee 
sorrowing. ' ' He had never given them any trouble 
before, and they were grieved and distressed by his 
strange behavior. 

Jesus said to them : " Why did ye go about seeking 
me ? Did ye not know that I must be about my Fa- 
ther' s business % ' ' They had dedicated him to the 
service of Gfod, and ought to have known where to 
find him. But they understood not the meaning of 
his words ; and Jesus went back with them to Naza- 
reth, and was in subjection to them, a dutiful and 
obedient child. And he grew in wisdom and in stat- 
ure, and in favor with God and men. 

Among the Jews it was deemed a religious duty to 
learn some trade, and as Joseph was a carpenter it is but 
natural to suppose that Jesus made himself familiar 
with the tools, and assisted in his father's workshop. 

Jesus had no intimate companion of his own age — 
no one with whom he could talk of the future, and of 
his work in the world. In his lonely walks, however, 
he held communion with Nature, and learned the 
ways of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. 
He watched the plowman, the sower, the reaper and 
the vine-dresser, and read the lesson of the tares and 
the wheat, and knew the time of grapes and of figs. 

He saw how the shepherd led, and fed and watched 
his liock, called the sheep with well-known voice, and 
brought them to the fold, following after those that 
had strayed, and tenderly carrying them back, ever 
ready to defend them at the cost of his life. 

He knew the habits of the fox, and had tracked 
him to his secret lair. He knew how and where the 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



eagle built its nest, and how the young ones were fed. 
He observed the joys and sorrows and wants of the 
people, the self-indulgence of the rich, the exactions 
of the tax-gatherer, and the oppression of the widow 
by unjust judges, and all these things made a deep 
impression on his mind. 

Even in the synagogue he found wrongs that needed 
correcting; for, al- 
though the outward 
observance of the 
law was correct, 
the inward and spir- 
itual meaning seem- 
ed altogether lost 
sight of. 

How little we 
know of Jesus dur- 
ing the thirty years 
that he spent in 
Nazareth ! And this 
was part of God's 
plan. We are not 
to think too much 
of him as a man. 
What his bodily 
appearance was, we 
can scarcely imag- 
ine. We are to dwell 
more upon his work 
and his character, and 
may be Christ-like in all our ways. Jesus manifested 
his love for home and the family circle, and taught a 
beautiful lesson to the young of self-denial, of gentle 
obedience and divine patience. He longed to be out 
in the world, to be doing a more glorious work ; but 
his lot was cast with the poor and lowly people of Naz- 

stay until God's good time. 




REPRESENTATION OF THE FACE OF OUR 

LORD. — (From an Early Prints 

to pattern after him that 



we 



areth, and there he must 




JESUS DISPUTING WITH THE DOCTORS' IN THE TEMPLE. 



JESUS COMES OUT OF NAZARETH. 45 



CHAPTER III. 

JESUS COMES OUT OF NAZAKETH— HIS BAPTISM AND 
TEMPTATION. 

In the days of King Herod, there was a certain 
priest named Zachariah. His wife's name was Eliza- 
beth, and they were a pious and praiseworthy couple. 
The one grief of their heart was that they were child- 
less, and had no son or daughter to comfort them and 
care for them in their old age. 

It was the custom to portion out the work for the 
priests, each one being taken in his turn, and serving 
but once during the entire week. 

The inner temple, where the ark was kept, was 
called the "holy of holies," and no one but the 
High Priest was permitted to enter the place. All 
the outside service was done by the lower order of 
priests, who had been trained for the work, and 
whose ancestors were priests of the tribe of Levi. 
Hence they were often called Levites. 

The day came for Zachariah to serve in the temple, 
or tabernacle, and his lot was to burn incense on the 
alj;ar set apart for that purpose. While this was being 
done, the multitude outside were on their faces pray- 
ing to God after the fashion of the East. They 
thought that their prayers and supplications would 
be born heavenward on the smoke that arose from the 
altar of incense, the priest standing between them 
and God to intercede in their behalf. 

While Zachariah was thus occupied in the temple, 
an angel came and stood at the right side of the altar. 
And Zachariah was troubled when he saw him, and in 
great fear. But the angel said to him : ' ' Fear not, 
Zachariah, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife shall 



46 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 

bear tliee a son, and his name shall be called John. 
And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many 
shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in 
the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine 
nor strong drink ; and he shall be filled with the Holy 
Ghost from the hour of his birth, and many of the 
children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their 
God. And he shall go before Him, in the spirit and 
power of Elijah, to prepare the people for the coming 
of the Lord." 

Zachariah said to the angel, "By what sign shall I 
know this \ for I am an old man, and my wife is well 
advanced in years. ' ' The angel said : "I am Gabriel — 
one of the chief angels nearest to God — and I am sent 
to bring these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt 
be dumb and not able to speak, until the day that 
these things take place, because thou didst not have 
faith to believe in the message I brought." 

The people outside waited for Zachariah, and won- 
dered why he remained so long a time inside the tem- 
ple ; and when he came out he could not speak to 
them ; and they knew that he had seen a vision, for 
he made signs unto them and remained speechless. 

In due season God gave Elizabeth a son, and her 
neighbors and relations rejoiced with her at this great 
proof of God's mercy. On the eighth day they all 
came together, and called the child Zachariah, after 
his father. 

But the mother said, ' ' Not so ; but he shall be 
called John." They said to her, "There is none of 
thy kindred that is called by that name ; " and they 
asked Zachariah by signs what he would have the 
child called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 
"His name is John." And they all marvelled. And 
immediately Zachariah opened his mouth, his tongue 
was loosed, and he spoke and gave thanks and praise 
to God. And fear came upon all that dwelt round 







i ; . ,,-y!;. | iV^ ■■, . ' v 



JESUS COMES OUT OF NAZARETH. 



49 



about them, and the story was told throughout all 
the hill-country of Judea. And those who heard of 
the strange things that had taken place, laid them up 
in their hearts, saying, " What then will this child 
be ? " For the hand of the Lord was with him. 

The child grew in size and strength, and early in 
his young manhood John took up his abode in the 

wilderness of Judea, 
which was not far 
from where his pa- 
rents lived. Here in 
solitude, by priva- 
tion and discipline, 
he was to fit himself 
for his life-work. 

He wore a dress 
of camel's hair — a 
coarse cloth woven 
of the hair that it 
shed each year — and 
around his waist a 
leather girdle. His 
food was locusts and 
wild honey, locusts 
being eaten by the 
poorer classes in the 
East, in place of the 
meat they were un- 
able to buy. 

John was a few months older than Jesus, and when 
he was thirty years of age he began preaching the 
gospel in the wilderness of Judea. His cry was : 
" Repent ; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
For this is He that was spoken of through the prophet 
Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilder- 
ness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path 
straight." 




JOHN THE BAPTIST. 



50 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

People thronged to hear him from Jerusalem, and 
all Judea, and all the region round about the Jordan, 
and many confessed their sins and were baptized. 
But when John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees 
coming to be baptized, he said to them : " O genera- 
tion of vipers, who hath warned you to nee from the 
wrath to come % Bring forth fruit worthy of repen- 
tance." 

John knew they were not fit subjects for baptism 
until their hearts were purified and they led better 
lives. They were simply attracted towards the new 
teacher, and regarded him at first as a great prophet ; 
but when he rebuked their sins, and pointed to Christ 
as their Messiah, they turned from him with hate, 
and refused to listen to him. 

The fame of the new preacher — who claimed to be a 
messenger from God — soon reached the hill-country 
of Galilee, and Jesus left his home in Nazareth, and 
came down to the Jordan to be baptized by him. But 
John would have hindered him, saying, " I have need 
to be baptized by thee, and comest thou tome?" Jesus 
said, " Let it be so for this time, that we may fulfil 
the law of righteousness." The Jews were com- 
manded to bathe frequently. It was part of their 
religion, and Jesus wished to conform to all the 
requirements of the law. Baptism is merely a sign, 
or symbol, that as water cleanses the outer man, so 
will repentance and faith in Jesus Christ cleanse the 
inner man, and take away all traces of sin. 

When Jesus himself ordered the baptism, John 
hesitated no longer, but led him into the water and 
performed the solemn rite. And as Jesus went up out 
of the water, lo, the heavens were opened and the 
spirit of God taking the form of a dove rested upon 
him. And a voice from out of the heavens said, 
" This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." 

From the waters of Jordan, Jesus was led by the 




SON, WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US? 



JESUS COMES OUT OF NAZARETH. 53 

Spirit into the wilderness : that is, the voice of Gfod 
within him told him to go there. Forty days and 
nights he spent in that lonely place, and though wild 
beasts were plenty they did him no harm. During 
all this time he had eaten nothing ; he had been fed 
with spiritual food and was unconscious of hunger ; 
but after it was over he became very weak, and had a 
great desire for food. 

Then Satan, who always comes to us in our weakest 
moments, appeared before Jesus and said unto him, 
:" If thou art the Son of God, command that this stone 
be made into bread." Jesus answered him, "It 
is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but 
by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of 
God." Severe though his sufferings were, he fought 
against this temptation of the evil one. As Son of 
God he might have had power to perform a miracle, to 
prove himself equal with God. But this he would 
not do. His trust was in God, who would supply all 
his needs. 

When Satan found that he could not tempt him to do 
wrong in that direction, he led him into the holy city 
of Jerusalem, and to the highest pinnacle of the tem- 
ple. From this great height one could not look down 
without becoming dizzy; yet Satan said to Jesus: "If 
thou art the Son of God cast thyself down; for it is 
written, He shall give His angels charge concerning 
thee, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone." 
Jesus said unto him, "It is likewise written, thou 
shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." 

When we are in a dangerous place, we must still 
trust in God to show us the way of escape, and to 
keep us in safety. 

Foiled at this point, Satan took Jesus up to a high 
mountain, and showing him "all the kingdoms of the 
world and the glory of them, said to him, All these 
things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and wor- 



54 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

ship me." Jesus said unto him: "Get thee behind 
me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the 
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Then 
the devil left him; and behold angels came and minis- 
tered unto him. 

These three temptations of Jesus are to teach us 
how to resist the evil one who is always watching for 
a chance to overcome our good resolutions. There are 
times when we are weak and sad, and Satan comes 
and urges us to enter into worldly pleasures, and to 
"eat, drink and be merry." He would convince us 
that in these things true happiness may be found; 
but it is not so. If God has afflicted us in any way, 
we may be sure it is for some wise purpose, and the 
soul that puts its trust in God, will have strength 
given to it at all times. 

We must not, however, be lifted up, or feel that 
God will do more for us than he will for the rest of our 
fellow-creatures, because we have always kept his 
commandments, and avoided the company of sinners. 
" Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he 
fall." Beware of pride and self -righteousness. 

Let not the riches of the world tempt you to for- 
sake the higher life, and become a prince among the 
powers of darkness. Better be poor, and a Christian, 
than the wicked owner of vast estates, or a miser who 
worships gold as if it were his God. 

The greatest victory any one can gain, is the vic- 
tory over Satan, and this can only be obtained 
by earnest and frequent prayer. We need not go 
in the wilderness to escape him ; for he will hnd us 
there. He assails the minister in his pulpit, as Avell as 
the poor creature whose home is a wretched hovel. 
One may say, " I was hard pressed and driven into sin." 
That is no excuse. If the devil gets between us and 
our duty to God we have but to say, "Get thee behind 
me, Satan! " and the victory is more than half won. 




JESUS IN HIS YOUTH. 



THE FIRST DISCIPLES. 57 

Trust in God is the staff on which we lean, and 
happy is he under all circumstances who can say, as 
David did, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in 
him." 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE FIKST DISCIPLES — THE MIEACLE AT CANA — 
THE PASSOVER-FEAST — DRIVING OUT 
THE MONEY-CHANGERS — NICODEMUS. 

After his triumph over the temptations of Satan, 
Jesus returned to the fords of the Jordan, where John 
still continued preaching and baptizing. One and 
another had said of John : " He is really worth hear- 
ing. He is not like the teachers we have been accus- 
tomed to listen to. His words burn, and the heart is 
stirred to its inmost depths. He is not afraid to tell 
men the truth about themselves. He has nothing to 
gain or to lose." Hearing these things, the Jews sent 
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ' ' Who 
art thou?" He confessed who he was, and denied 
nothing. And he said, " I am not the Christ." They 
asked him, "What then? Art thou Elijah?" He 
said, " I am not." "Art thou the prophet Isaiah ? " 
He answered, "No." 

Then said they unto him, "Who art thou ? that we 
may give an answer to those that sent us. What say- 
est thou of thyself?" He said, "I am the voice of 
one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way 
of the Lord." 

Some from among the Pharisees had been sent, and 
they were very strict in their observances of the out- 
ward forms of religion, and held themselves up as 
patterns for all the rest of the world. They were fond 
of asking questions, and, therefore, said to John, 



58 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

" Why "baptizest thou then, if thou be not the Christ, 
nor Elijah, nor Isaiah ? " 

John answered them, saying, * ' I baptize with 
water, but in the midst of you is one whom ye know 
not, coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy 
to unloose." 

The next day, John saw Jesus coming towards him, 
and said: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh 
away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I 
spoke. And I knew him not ; but that he might be 
made manifest to Israel, therefore come I baptizing 
with water." And John bare witness, saying : " I be- 
held the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, 
and it rested upon him. And I knew him not ; but 
he that sent me to baptize with water, said unto me, 
Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descend- 
ing and abiding upon, the same is he which baptizeth 
with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and borne 
witness that this is the Son of God." 

The next day John was standing with two of his 
disciples, and as Jesus walked near them he said, 
"Behold the Lamb of God!" and the two disciples 
heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And 
Jesus turned and beheld them following, and said 
unto them, "What seek ye ? " They said unto him, 
"Rabbi," — which is the Hebrew word for Master or 
Teacher — " where dost thou dwell ? " 

He saith unto them, "Come, and ye shall see." 
They came, therefore, and saw where he abode, and 
remained with him all that day ; for this was early in 
the morning. One of the two who followed Jesus 
was named Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. And he 
first findeth his brother Simon, and saith unto him, 
"We have found the Messiah," which is, being inter- 
preted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. 
Jesus, looking upon him, said, " Thou art Simon the 
son of Jonas : thou shalt be called Cephas." This 




THE TEMPTATION, 



THE FIRST DISCIPLES. 61 

name signifies a stone or rock, and in the Greek is 
called Petros, and in our language Peter. So, from 
that time, this disciple was known as Simon Peter. 
The other one of the two disciples who followed was 
named John, and he sought his brother James and 
brought him to Jesus. 

The next day Jesus set out for Galilee, and on the 
way he found a man named Philip, and said unto 
him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Beth- 
saida, the birthplace of Andrew and Peter. And 
Philip went out in search of his friend Nathaniel, 
and said unto him, "We have found him of whom 
Moses, in the law and the prophets, did write, Jesus 
of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathaniel said 
unto him, "Can any good thing come out of Naza- 
reth ? " Philip saith unto him, " Come and see." 

Now Nathaniel was a good man, and had often 
prayed for the coming of the Messiah, his favorite 
place of prayer being under a fig-tree in his own gar- 
den. And when Philip came for him he made no 
delay, but went at once to see Jesus. If we really 
desire to see Jesus, we do not need a second call. 

Jesus saw Nathaniel coming, and saith, "Behold, 
an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Nathaniel 
was surprised that Jesus had any knowledge of him, 
and he asked, "Who has been telling thee about 
me?" 

Jesus said unto him, "Before Philip called thee, 
when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." 
Nathaniel answered him, ' ' Rabbi, Master, thou art 
the Son of God ; thou art the King of Israel." Jesus 
said unto him, "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee 
under the fig-tree, believest thou? thou shalt see 
greater things than these." And speaking to all the 
disciples, he said, u Verily, verily, I say unto you ye 
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascend- 
ing and descending upon the Son of Man," 



62 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

As Jesus and his disciples continued their journey 
they came to a small town in Galilee, named Cana, 
where a marriage-feast was being held. These feasts 
lasted from seven to fourteen days, and were occa- 
sions of great rejoicing. The mother of Jesus was 
there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited. 
When the supply of wine was exhausted, the mother 
of Jesus said unto him: "They have no wine." 
And Jesus said unto her, "Woman, what have I to 
do with thee ? mine hour is not yet come." 

Jesus meant that he was no longer under the con- 
trol of his mother, but must do God's will, and wait 
for the hour or the moment when He should direct 
him. His mother said to the servants, "Whatsoever 
he tells you to do, that do." 

In the court, near the entrance to the house, were 
six stone water-pots, each one of which would hold at 
least twenty gallons. Jesus saith to the servants, ' ' Fill 
the water-pots with water." And they brought water 
from the spring and filled them to the brim. And he 
said, "Draw now, and bear to the ruler of the feast." 
And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast, the 
chief guest, had tasted the wine — none but the servants 
knowing whence it came — he calleth the bridegroom, 
and saith to him: "Every man first setteth on the 
good wine, and when men are drunken, then that 
which is worse, but thou hast kept the good wine 
until now." This did Jesus, as the beginning of his 
signs, in Cana of Galilee, and his disciples believed in 
him. 

After this he went down to Capernaum, accompani- 
ed by his mother, his brethren and his disciples, and 
stayed there for a few days. And the Passover of the 
Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem 
with the other pilgrims that wended their way thither. 
The temple-courts were filled with the buyers and 
sellers of oxen, sheep and doves to be used in the 



THE FIRST DISCIPLES. 65 

daily sacrifices, and close up to Solomon's Porch, 
were the shops of the merchants, and the tables of the 
money-changers. 

Every man of Israel had to pay a certain sum each 
year into the Temple treasury, and this Temple-trib- 
ute, or tax, could only be paid in half-shekels. A 
shekel was worth about sixty-two and a half cents of 
our money, and those who came from a distance and 
had not the right kind of coin could easily get it 
changed at the money-changers. 

The Passover took place in April, and preparations 
for the feast were made at least a month before. The 
bridges and the roads were put in repair, and even 
the sepulchres whitened, so that no sickness might 
break out among the pilgrims. In every country 
town the money-changers opened their stalls, or banks, 
thus allowing plenty of time for all the Jews to get 
their money changed, for which, of course, a charge 
would be made. 

By the last of March, the pilgrims began to arrive 
in Jerusalem, and then the stalls in the country were 
closed, and the money-changers sat in the Temple- 
courts. A great many foreign Jews took advantage 
of this opportunity to change their foreign money at 
the tables before they made their purchases of the 
dealers. The money had to be weighed ; and there 
was much disputing and bargaining, and the sound 
of loud talking and the clink of money penetrated 
even to the inner Temple. 

When Jesus entered the Temple and found it turn- 
ed into a market for the sale of oxen, sheep and doves, 
and saw the money-changers sitting at their tables, he 
took a whip of small cords and drove out the cattle 
and those who traded in that sacred place. He poured 
out the money, and overturned the tables on which 
the bankers had heaped their change, and said to 
them that sold doves " Take these things hence; 



66 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



make not my Father's house a house of mer- 
chandise." 
His disciples, noticing his indignation, remembered 




DRIVING THE SELLER? FROM THE TEMPLE. 

that David had written in one of his Psalms : ' ' The 
zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." The Jews 
therefore answered and said unto him, "What sign 




THE MARRIAGE IN CANA, 



THE FIRST DISCIPLES. 69 

shewest thou that thou hast the right to do these 
things % ' ' 

Jesus said unto them, ' ' Destroy this Temple, and in 
three days will I raise it up." The Jews said, "Forty 
and six years was this Temple in building, and wilt 
thou raise it up in three days \ ' ' But he spake of the 
temple of his body. When, therefore he was raised 
from the dead his disciples remembered that he said 
this: and they believed the Scripture, and the word 
which Jesus had said. 

Many of the Jews questioned his right to do these 
things, or to exercise any authority over them, and, 
looking upon the Temple merely as a building, gave 
no thought to the spiritual meaning of his words. 
But there were those who believed in him, and partly 
understood what he meant. And one of these, a 
Pharisee named Mcodemus, a ruler of the Jews, 
came to Jesus by night, and said to him: " Rabbi, 
we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for 
no one can do these signs that thou doest except God 
be with him." 

Jesus said, ' ' Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except 
a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of 
God." Mcodemus saith unto him, "How can a man 
be born when he is old % ' ' 

Jesus answered: u Except a man be born of water 
and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of 
God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and 
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not 
that I said to thee, Ye must be born again. The wind 
bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound 
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and 
whither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the 
Spirit." 

Mcodemus said unto him, ' ' How can these things 
be?" Jesus said, "Art thou a teacher of Israel, and 
knowest not these things?" Mcodemus was a mem- 



70 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

ber of the Sanhedrim, the great court of law, which 
was composed of 71 members, before whom criminals 
were brought, and who were regarded as the wisest 
teachers in the land. In the opinion of this body of 
men Jesus was guilty of a great crime ; and Mcode- 
mus needed to be cautious in going out to see him. 

Jesus said the wind was an emblem of the Spirit. 
We cannot tell how our hearts are made over, and 
how the old man, full of sin and wickedness, becomes 
the new man full of grace and good works. Mcode- 
mus had failed in his teachings and in his knowledge 
of the Scripture, if he had not made it plain that a 
man, to have favor with God, must have a new heart 
and lead a holy life. 

Jesus said, "We speak that which we know, and 
testify of that which we have seen : and ye receive 
not our witness." Jesus knew that Mcodemus only 
half believed in him, and he said : "If I tell you of 
earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye be- 
lieve if I tell you of heavenly things. And no one 
hath ascended up into heaven but he that came down 
from heaven — the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted 
up on high the serpent in the wilderness, even so 
must the Son of Man be lifted up ; that every one 
that believeth in him may not perish but have eternal 
life. For God so loved the world that he gave his 
only -begotten Son, that every one that believeth in 
him may not perish but have eternal life. For God 
sent not the Son unto the world that he may judge 
the world, but that the world through him may be 
saved. He that believeth in him is not judged ; but 
he that believeth not is judged already ; because he 
hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten 
Son of God. And this is the judgment, because the 
light is come into the world, and men loved the dark- 
ness rather than the light, for their works were 
wicked. For every one that doeth evil hateth the 



THE FIRST DISCIPLES. 71 

light, and he cometh not to the light lest his sins be 
discovered. But he who is faithful to the truth com- 
eth to the light, that it may be shown what great 
works God hath wrought in him." 

Jesus himself was the light that God sent into the 
world, not to show sinners how bad they were, and to 
bring them to judgment, but to arouse them from 
their sins, and to show them how to be forgiven. 

We know ourselves that wicked people prowl 
around in the night to hide their crimes under cover 
of the darkness. They think they will not be found 
out, but though they escape the eye of man, they 
cannot hide from God. He sees and remembers. But 
he is also ready to forgive ; and when the wicked one 
says, "I am sorry," and tries to lead a better life, 
and asks God for Christ' s sa&e to cleanse his heart 
and to blot out his iniquities, the poor sinner is for- 
given and sent on his way rejoicing. 

After these things Jesus and his disciples came into 
the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them and 
baptized. And John also was at iEnon near to Salem, 
because there were many waters there ; and those 
who came to him were baptized. For John was not 
yet cast into prison. But there was a falling off in 
the number of his followers, and John's disciples 
were jealous of the power manifested by Jesus and 
his disciples. There arose, therefore, a questioning on 
the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purify- 
ing. A certain Jew had said that the baptism of 
Jesus was far more cleansing than that of John. So 
they came to John, and said unto him, " Rabbi, he that 
was with thee beyond the Jordon, to whom thou hast 
borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all 
men come to him." They did not tell the exact truth, 
for they wished to make out a good story, and arouse 
John to a sense of his danger from such a rival. 

John answered and said: "A man can receive noth- 



72 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

ing except it have been given him out of heaven. Ye 
yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the 
Christ, but I am sent before him. He that hath the 
bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bride- 
groom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth 
greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy 
therefore hath been fulfilled." 

The figure of the bride and the bridegroom is fre- 
quently made use of in the Old and iSTew Testaments. 
It is a holy relation. Jesus is the bridegroom. He is 
leading home his bride — His people — the church es- 
tablished in His name. John laid no claim to the 
name of the bridegroom, but he listened to His voice 
at the marriage-feast and was a sharer in His joy. 
John was simply a messenger, a forerunner, and now 
that the Master had come, there was nothing further 
for him to do. " He must increase," said John to his 
disciples, "but I must decrease. For he whom God 
hath sent speaketh the words of God: for not by 
measure giveth he the spirit. The Father loveth the 
Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that 
believeth in the Son hath eternal life; but he that be- 
lieveth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath 
of God abideth on him." 

We cannot say that we love God, and yet re- 
fuse to acknowledge Jesus as our Saviour. Our faith 
in Him is proof of our obedience to God. Sin keeps 
us out of heaven. There is no happiness in wrongdo- 
ing. But when we join hands with Christ, and put 
our trust in Him we have a foretaste of heaven on 
earth and a pledge of everlasting bliss to come. 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 73 



CHAPTER V. 

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA — JESUS IN GALILEE — HEAL- 
ING OF THE NOBLEMAN'S SON — REJECTED 
AT NAZARETH. 

Our Lord knew what was in the minds of the Phar- 
isees, and of the comparisons they made between his 
teaching and that of John. And the news spread 
about that Jesns was making more disciples than 
John ever had made, and this, of course, aroused a 
great deal of ill-feeling. For this reason, and that 
John's work might not be hindered, Jesus decided to 
leave the land of Judea, and to go up into Galilee. 
And he must needs go through Samaria. 

Now the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans 
who were a mixed race, and mingled the worship of 
Jehovah with the worship of idols. They built a tem- 
ple for themselves on the top of Mount Gerizim, and 
between them and the Jews there was intense hatred. 
In the time of our Lord, however, the temple on Mount 
Gerizim had been long in ruins, but the hill and the 
city below it were regarded as sacred. 

Jesus came to a city of Samaria, which is called 
Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave 
to his son Joseph. Joseph was buried at Shechem, 
and the surrounding country became the inheritance 
of his children. 

Now there was a well of water there, known as 
Jacob's well. And Jesus being wearied with his long 
journey sat down on the low brick wall around the 
w^ell, to rest, and to wait for the return of the disci- 
ples who had gone into the city to buy food. 

It was about the sixth hour — near sunset — and the 
time when the women came out to draw water from 



74 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the public wells. And there came a woman of Sama- 
ria to Jacob's well. Jesus said unto her, "Give me 
to drink." The Samaritan woman said unto him, 
" How is it that thou, being a Jew, asketh drink of 
me, a Samaritan woman % for the Jews have no deal- 
ings with the Samaritans." 

Jesus said to her, "If thou knewest the gift of God, 
and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink, thou 
wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given 
thee living water." She said unto him, "Sir, thou 
hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from 
whence then hast thou that living water ? Art thou 
greater than our Father Jacob, who gave us the well, 
and drank thereof himself, his sons, and his cattle?" 

Jesus said to her, ' ' Every one that drinketh of this 
water shall thirst again ; but whosoever drinketh of 
the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst ; but 
the water that I shall give him shall be a fountain of 
water, springing up into everlasting life." 

The woman said unto him, ' ' Sir, give me this water 
that I thirst not, neither come all the way here to 
draw." Jesus said to her, "Go, call thy husband, 
and come hither." The woman answered and said, 
" I have no husband." Jesus saith, " Thou hast well 
said, I have no husband: for thou hast had live hus- 
bands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy hus- 
band: in this thou hast said truly." 

The woman said to him, ' i Sir, I perceive that thou 
art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this moun- 
tain, and ye say that Jerusalem is the place where 
men must worship." Jesus saith unto her, " Believe 
me, woman, an hour cometh when neither in this 
mountain nor at Jerusalem shall ye worship the 
Father. Ye worship that which ye know not; we 
worship that which we know; for the salvation is of 
the Jews." The Saviour, foretold by the prophets, 
and long waited for by the Jews, had come to deliver 




THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. y 7 

the whole world from their sins, and to teach them a 
better form of worship. 

"An hour cometh," said Jesus, "and now is, when 
the true worshipers shall worship the F?^her in 
spirit and truth; for the Father seeketh such to wor- 
ship him. Grod is a spirit, and they that worship him 
must worship in spirit and truth." They must give 
the real worship of sincere hearts. He cares not for 
outward forms and ceremonies. No other worship 
will He receive than that which is given in the right 
spirit. For He reads all hearts and knows which are 
false and which are true. 

The woman said unto him, "I know that the Mes- 
siah cometh, which is called Christ: when He is 
come, He will tell us all things." Jesus saith unto 
her, " I that speak to thee am He." 

At this moment the disciples appeared, and won- 
dered at finding Jesus talking with a woman, and he 
a Jew, and a Rabbi ! Such a thing was not tolerated 
by the Israelites, yet so great was their reverence for 
Jesus that the disciples dared not ask any questions. 

Meanwhile, the woman forgetting her errand, and 
leaving her water-pot by the well, hurried into the 
city. And she said to those she met on the way, 
"Come, see a man who told me all the things that 
ever I did. Can this be the Christ ? " Many gathered 
around to hear the tidings that she brought, some be- 
lieving, and some doubting ; and to prove the truth of 
her words they went out of the city and came to the 
place where Jesus was. 

In the meantime, the disciples had urged Jesus to 
eat of the food they had brought. But he said unto 
them, u I have meat to eat that ye know not of." 

Therefore said the disciples one to another, " Hath 
any one brought him food?" They were too dull to 
perceive that he spoke of soul-food, the strength given 
to him through communion with God. Jesus, who 



7% THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

kneAv tlieir thoughts, said unto them, "My meat is to 
do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his 
work." It was to be his joy, the sole object of his 
life, to do his Father's will, to desire to do it, as men 
hunger and thirst after food. 

It was now the middle of December, and the harvest 
in that country began about the middle of April. The 
disciples had talked of it among themselves, and 
Jesus said, "Do ye not say, there are yet four months 
and then cometh the harvest ? Lo, I say unto you, lift 
up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are al- 
ready white for harvesting. He that reapeth receiveth 
reward, and gathereth fruit to life eternal : that he 
that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 
For herein is that saying true, One soweth and an- 
other reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye 
bestowed no labor; others have toiled, and ye reap 
the reward of their toil." 

Jesus speaks of the gathering in of souls, which he 
compares to a harvest. These disciples had done no 
work in Samaria. Jesus himself was the sower. The 
good word had been dropped in the heart of a believ- 
ing woman — a poor sinner — and she spread the news, 
and the men of Sychar were the fruits of her labors. 
The disciples shared in the joy of the harvest, and all 
those servants who come after Jesus find the field pre- 
pared for them. 

Many of the Samaritans believed because of the 
word of the woman, which testified, ' ' He told me all 
things that ever I did." To testify is to bear wit- 
ness: to solemnly declare to others a fact they know 
nothing about. When, therefore, the Samaritans came 
unto Jesus they begged him to stay with them ; and 
he abode there two days. And many more believed 
because of the teachings of Jesus himself, and they 
said to the woman, "Now do we believe, not because 
of thy speaking, but because we have heard him our- 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 79 

selves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour 
of the world." 

At the end of two days Jesus left Samaria and went 
into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a 
prophet hath no honor in his own country. But he 
had won honor in Judea. Therefore, when he came 
into Galilee the Galileans received him, having seen 
all things whatsoever he did at Jerusalem, for they 
also went to the feast. And he came again into Cana 
of Galilee, where he performed his first miracle, and 
made the water wine. 

And there was a certain king's officer whose son 
was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus 
had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto 
him, and begged that he would come down and heal 
his son: for he was at the point of death. The man 
had heard of the miracles Jesus had done, and so had 
faith in him. Jesus therefore said unto him, " Ex- 
cept ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe." 
The king's officer saith unto him, " Lord, come down 
ere my child die ! ' ' Jesus saith unto him, ' ' Go thy way ; 
thy son liveth." And the man believed the word that 
Jesus spake to him, and went his way. 

Cana is up in the hill country, and at least twenty- 
five miles from Capernaum, which is situated on the 
Sea of Galilee. And as the king's officer was going 
down, his servants met him and told him that his son 
lived. He inquired of them therefore the hour when 
he began to show signs of returning health ; and they 
said unto him, ' ' Yesterday at the seventh hour the 
fever left him." So the father perceived that it was 
the same hour in which Jesus had said to him, ' ' Thy 
son liveth; " and his faith was increased, and he and 
his whole family became followers of Jesus. This 
Jesus again did, as a second sign, having come out of 
Judea into Galilee. 

Jesus came once more to Nazareth, the home of his 



8o 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



childhood. On Friday, at sunset, the minister of the 
Synagogue went up on the roof of his house, and blew 
a loud blast from the trumpet, as a signal that all work 




THE HIGH PRIEST. 



was to be laid aside. Once, twice, thrice was this re- 
peated and then the Sabbath day had begun, and the 
Sabbath lamp was lighted. 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. Si 

Jesus arose early on the Sabbath morn, and went 
into the Synagogue, where as child, youth, and man 
he had so often worshiped. Then he had kept him- 
self in the background, and been seated according to 
his rank. But within a few months strange events 
had taken place, and the fame of Jesus had spread 
even to Nazareth. 

It was customary for each community to build its 
own synagogue, but if too poor to do this, they might 
meet for worship in a private dwelling, a sort of "syn- 
agogue in a house." At the time of Ezra, synagogues 
were established in all the towns for the benefit of 
those who could not take part oftener than three times 
a year, and perhaps not so often as that, in the wor- 
ship of the Temple at Jerusalem, and a special form 
of service was instituted. The people met there for 
prayer and for religious instruction. 

A knowledge of ancient synagogues has been ob- 
tained through recent explorations in Palestine, and 
all had their entrances at the south end. It is sup- 
posed that the worshipers made a circuit to the 
north, where is the woman's gallery, or entered their 
seats by the middle of the eastern aisle. The syna- 
gogue is built of the stone of the country. Over the 
doors are various designs representing a seven-branch- 
ed candlestick, an open flower between two lambs, or 
vine leaves with bunches of grapes. 

At the south end, facing the north is a movable ark 
containing the sacred rolls of the Law and the Proph- 
ets. It is called the Holy Chest. Steps lead up to it, 
and in front of it hangs a curtain. Right before the 
ark, and facing the people, are the chief seats in the 
Synagogue, for the rulers and honorable* members. In 
the middle of the Synagogue is the Lectern, or desk, 
from which the law is read. Those who are to read 
the law stand, while he who is to preach or de- 
liver an address will sit. Beside them stands the 



82 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



interpreter, to explain, or to repeat aloud, what is 
said. 

The rules are not so strict as they are in regard to 
the Temple, where worshipers must not enter carry- 
ing a staff, nor with shoes, nor even with dust on the 




COLOSSAL LAMP. 

feet, nor with scrip or purse ; but the Synagogue 
must not be made a thoroughfare. The Jewish boys 
and girls were taught that they must not behave 
lightly in that sacred place. They must not joke, 
laugh, eat, talk, dress, or seek shelter there from sun 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 83 

or rain. Only Rabbis and their disciples might look 
upon it as their own dwelling, and eat, drink, and 
perhaps even sleep there; and nnder certain circum- 
stances the poor and strangers might be fed there. 

When Jesus entered the Synagogue at Nazareth, the 
chief ruler requested him to conduct the devotions. 
He would begin the service with two prayers, the first 
one thanking God for his many blessings, and the 
second asking that their eyes and their hearts may be 
opened to keep God's law. After this followed the 
Jewish Creed, which Moses taught the children of 




THE ARK. 



Israel, and which began, "Hear, O Israel, The Lord 
our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord 
thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, 
and with all thy might." This was recited by all the 
worshipers, and was followed by another prayer, or 
offering of praise to the Almighty. 

Then the leader took his place before the ark and 
repeated certain offerings of praise, or benedictions, 
some of which were said with bent body, and one in 
particular required that all should bend down. After 
this the priests, if there were any in the Synagogue, 



8 4 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



spoke the blessing with raised hands. This was called 
the raising up of hands. After the benediction there 
was another short prayer, at the close of which Amen 
was spoken by the congregation. 

Then a priest, a Levite, and live Israelites read the 




A LEVITE. 

Law, after which the attendant handed to Jesus the 
Book of Isaiah which contained the passage for the 
day. Jesus took the scroll and unrolled it until he 
came to the sixty-fifth chapter, and the place where 
it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 
because he annointed me to preach the 'gospel to the 



THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA. 



85 



poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim deliv- 
erance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the 
blind. To set at liberty them that are bruised, and 
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. And he 
closed the roll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat 
down. And the eyes of all in the Synagogue were 
fastened upon him. 

And he began to say unto them, " To-day hath this 
scripture been fulfilled in your ears." And they 




THE TABLE OF SHREW BREAD. 



liked his manner and marveled at the words of grace 
which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said 
among themselves, "Is not this Joseph's son?" And 
he said to them, "Ye will surely say unto me this 
proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have 
heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own 
country." 

Jesus knew that the people of Nazareth were jeal- 
ous of the fame he had brought to Capernaum, and 



S6 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



the hope that he might do even greater miracles in his 
early home, was their only reason for caring to see 
him. 

Jesus said to them: "No prophet is acceptable in 




EASTERN LAMP. 

his own country. Of a truth I say unto you, there 
were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, 
when there was no rain for three years and six months, 
and there came a great famine over the lnnd. But to 
none of them was Elijah sent, save only to Zarephath, 




EASTERN LAMP. 



a city of Sidon, where a woman dwelt that was a 
widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the 
time of Elisha the Prophet; and none of them were 
cleansed, save Naaman, the Syrian." 



JESUS IN GALILEE. 



87 



This reference to blessings bestowed upon the Gen- 
tiles, made the whole congregation very angry. And 
they rose up from their seats in great wrath, and forced 
him out of the Synagogue, and led him to the brow 
of the hill on which the city was built intending to 




PHYLACTERIES. 

throw him down headlong. But he escaped from them 
in some miraculous way, and went on to Capernaum, 
and taught there on the Sabbath day. And they were 
astonished at his teachings; for he spoke with great 
power, and as one having authority. 



CHAPTER VI. 



JESUS IN GALILEE — HE PREACHES FROM A BOAT — THE 

CALLING OF MATTHEW — CHOOSING THE TWELVE — 

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 

Cast out of his own city, Jesus went on to Caper- 
naum, where he knew that kind friends would wel- 
come him. It was the home of his earliest disciples, 
Simon and Andrew, and James and John, who, when 
Jesus went from Cana to Nazareth, had returned to 



88 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Capernaum, and to their work there. And here also 
Jesus decided to make his home while he remained in 
Galilee. 

On the Sabbath he went into the Synagogue to 
teach, as was his custom. He spoke not in the dull 
way that the Scribes and priests were accustomed to 
expound the Scriptures, but in burning words that 
fixed the attention of the congregation. They list- 




SOUTH END OF THE SEA OF GALILEE. 



ened in spellbound astonishment, for never before 
had they heard such glowing words from the lips of 
any speaker. 

Suddenly a strange cry broke through the stillness. 
A man in whom was an evil spirit— an unclean demon 
— entered the Synogogue, and cried out with a loud 
voice, "Let us alone! Ah ! what have we to do with 
thee : thou Jesus of Nazareth \ Art thou come to 
destroy us ? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One 



JESUS IN GALILEE. 91 

of God ! " And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold 
thy peace, and come out from him ! " At these calm 
words, the demoniac fell to the ground, and screamed 
and writhed in a convulsion. Then the man arose 
cured, and in his right mind. And those who saw the 
miracle were amazed at the power displayed. And 
the fame of it went through all the country round 
about. 

Jesus, rising from his seat in the Synagogue, went 
to the house of Simon. Simon was a married man, 
and his wife' s mother was very ill, with a fever that 
raged violently, and the family begged Jesus to help 
her. He came at once, and stood over her ; and at his 
command the fever left her, and she rose up, and 
busied herself about her household duties. 

As soon as the sun began to set, that marked the 
close of the Sabbath day, throngs of people pressed to 
the door of Simon's humble home, bringing with them 
the sick, and the diseased that Jesus might cure them. 
He had sympathy for their sufferings, and laid his 
hands on all of them, and healed them. Isaiah said, 
' ' Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sor- 
rows;" and Matthew interprets it, "He took our in- 
firmities and bore our diseases." He made the afflic- 
tions of the people his own, and his soul was filled 
with pity. 

As the day began to dawn, Jesus stole away from 
the crowd, and unobserved by them went off to a quiet 
place to pray. But he was not long alone, for the 
multitude sought eagerly for him, and Peter and his 
friends searched until they found him. And they 
clung to him, and begged him to stay with them, and 
they said, "All are seeking thee." And the crowd 
soon followed on, and added their entreaties. 

But there were other cities besides Capernaum in 
need of the good tidings, and Jesus said to his disci- 
ples, "Let us go elsewhere, into the next towns, 



02 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 



that I may preach there also; for to this end came 
I forth." 

But the crowd would not leave him. They hung 
upon his words, and begged him to speak to them yet 
once more. Jesus, yielding to their desire, bent his 




JESUS AND PETER. 

steps towards the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, or 
as it was usually called the Sea of Galilee. There 
were two boats there, and the fishermen were washing 
their nets. As there was no room for Jesus to stand 
owing to the pressure of the crowd, he entered into 
one of the boats which was Simon Peter's, and asked 




JESUS CURING THE SICK. 



JESUS IN GALILEE. 95 

him to put out a little from the land. And he sat 
down and taught the multitudes out of the boat. 

After he had left off speaking he said to Simon: 
' ' Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for 
a draught." Simon answered and said: "Master, we 
toiled all night and took nothing, but at thy word I 
will let down the nets." And having done this they 
caught a multitude of fishes, and the net began to 
break. And they beckoned to their partners in the 
other boat to come and help them. And they came 
and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. 
When Simon Peter saw it he knelt down before Jesus 
saying: ' ' Depart from me; for I am a sinful man. ' ' For 
amazement seized on him, and on all that were with 
him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken. 

Jesus said unto Simon : ' ' Fear not ; from henceforth 
thou shalt be a fisher of men." He was to cast the 
gospel net into the world' s great sea, and to gather in 
souls in great numbers. And the disciples, when they 
had brought their boats to land, left all and followed 
Jesus. 

At or near Capernaum was the place where the 
taxes were collected for that district. The Jews hated 
to pay these taxes, and hated the officers who collected 
them. These officers were called "publicans," and 
were always classed with the lowest of the people. 
The one at Capernaum was named Matthew, and was 
despised more than any others because he was a Jew. 
But Jesus wished to show that his disciples were cho- 
sen from among the poor and despised. Those whom 
men looked down upon Jesus would raise up to be 
his Apostles. And he said to Matthew : ' ' Follow me. ' ' 
Matthew had doubtless heard of Jesus, and believed 
in him, and at the divine command he arose, left all, 
and followed his Lord and Master. 

After one of these days of ceaseless toil, Jesus went 
up into the mountain to pray, and continued all night 



96 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

in prayer to God. In this way only could he gain 
strength for the labors of the day. He had seen that the 
people were at a flock without a shepherd, and that 
some way must be planned to keep them from going 
astray. They needed more teachers. So the next 
day, before the crowd had collected, he called his dis- 
ciples unto him, and chose from among them twelve, 
whom he named Apostles. These were Simon Peter, 
and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and 
Philip and Bartholomew, and Matthew and Thomas, 
and James the son of Alpheus, and Simon, called the 
Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Isca- 
riot, who became a traitor. Three of these — Peter, 
James and John — were very near to Christ during all 
of his ministry. Some are not mentioned again in the 
Holy Scriptures, but we must presume that they did 
their work in a quiet way, and were faithful in saving 
souls, and building up the spiritual kingdom of God. 

While the choice was being made, a multitude of 
people were gathering from all Judea and Jerusalem, 
and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, to hear Jesus 
and to be healed of their diseases. And as he came 
down with his disciples, to a level place, the crowd 
pressed around him and sought to touch him, for they 
felt that power went out from him to help and to heal 
them. When all were seated on the green grass 
Jesus preached that memorable discourse known as 
the Sermon on the Mount. He spoke directly to 
the disciples, but intended that each one of the multi- 
tude should take the lesson to heart. Jesus said : 
" Blessed are the poor in spirit : for their' s is the king- 
dom of heaven." The poor in spirit are the humble 
and lowly minded, who have room in their hearts for 
the riches of the Gospel. 

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be 
comforted." God will comfort those who mourn over 
their own sins, and the power of Satan in the world. 




THE SHEPHERD AND THE LAMBS. 



fESUS IN GALILEE. 99 

" Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the 
earth." The meek are the mild and gentle, who are 
more ambitious for Christ than they are for them- 
selves. They care not for earthly honors, and shall 
be blessed in all their labors. 

' ' Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness : for they shall be tilled." Those who 
long for God's approval as they long for meat and 
drink, will have it in great abundance. 

1 ' Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain 
mercy." Be good and kind yourself if you expect 
kindness from God and your fellow-men. 

" Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see 
God." Only those who have repented of their sins 
and led pure and holy lives, can expect to win heaven, 
and to be where God is. 

' ' Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be 
called the sons of God." This is to be the reward of 
those who labor for the salvation of souls, and help to 
extend the kingdom of peace. 

"Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteous- 
ness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 
Those who work for Jesus must expect crosses and 
persecution, and even martyrdom, but for these suf- 
ferings there is blessed reward in heaven. 

' ' Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and per- 
secute you, and say all manner of evil against you 
falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: 
for so persecuted they the prophets who were before 
you." 

The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would es- 
tablish a kingdom and a throne on earth, which would 
be the envy and admiration of all other nations. Je- 
sus taught in these Beatitudes that the blessings to be 
derived from his kingdom, were wholly spiritual, and 
that none but those who loved and served God would 
have any part in it. 



ioo THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

He said to the disciples : " Ye are the salt of the 
earth : but if the salt have lost its savor wherewith 
shall it be salted \ it is thenceforth good for nothing 
but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men." 
As salt seasons food, and preserves it, and keeps it 
from becoming stale and tasteless, so the disciples 
were by their lives and their teachings to keep the 
gospel truths fresh in the minds of the people. Good 
Christians are frequently and truthfully called u the 
salt of the earth." They were to act directly upon 
the souls of men who would feel better for being with 
them. 

But this was not all. Jesus said : "'Ye are the 
light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 
Neither do men light a candle and put it under the 
bushel, but on a candlestick ; and it giv r eth light unto 
all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine 
before men, that they may see your good works, and 
glorify your Father who is in heaven." Christ had 
come to bring light to those who were in darkness. 
It was customary in the East to build cities on high 
ground. The Church of Christ was to be like a city 
set upon a hill. Those who loved Jesus were not to 
do their work just in a certain circle and keep it hid 
from sight, but their influence was to be bright and 
far reaching. Their lives were to be like lights in a 
dark world. "Each of us must shine. You in your 
small corner, I in mine." 

Jesus said they were not to think that he came to 
destroy the law. He came to prove that the law and 
the prophets were fulfilled in him. By his coming 
all that had been foretold would be brought to pass ; 
and while heaven and earth last, he said, not one jot 
or one tittle shall pass from the law of God till all 
things were done. 

A jot is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, 
and a tittle is the little turn at the end of the letter. 




THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 



JESUS IN GALILEE. 103 

4 ' Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of the least 
of these commandments, and shall teach men so, shall 
be called the least in the kingdom of heaven : bnt 
whosoever shall do and teach them, shall be called 
great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say nnto you, 
except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness 
of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in nowise enter 
the kingdom of heaven. " Ye have heard that it was 
said to them of olden time : Thou shalt not kill ; and 
whosoever kill shall be in danger of the judgment." 
Jesus told them that although the earthly courts only 
punished those who had actually committed crime, 
there was a higher court that proved it a crime to have 
angry or murderous thoughts in the heart. He said 
that no prayer or offering to God would be acceptable 
unless those angry feelings were first gotten rid of. 
We must ask forgiveness of those we had injured, 
before we asked God to forgive us our sins as we for- 
give those who trespass against us. We are led into 
sin through pride, envy, hate, or other passions. 
But we must not yield to them. We must not let our 
eyes, our feet, our hands, or our tongue offend God. 
We are not to swear, nor to use God' s name in vain ; 
but our speech is to be pure, and above reproach. 

It was the law in olden times that a man was to re- 
venge himself for injuries received. It was an eye for 
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But Christ taught 
differently. His disciples were not to strike back, but 
must bear twice as much as other people, and give up 
rather than go to law. ' ' Whosoever shall force thee to 
go a mile — that is, to do extra service — go with him 
twain : do more even than is commanded. Give to 
him that asketh thee, and from him that would bor- 
row of thee turn not thou away." Beggars were as 
plenty in those days as they are now, and Jesus would 
have his disciples kind to the deserving poor, and 
willing to help them. 



io4 THE LIFE OF JESVS CHRIST. 

" Ye have heard that it was said : Thou shalt love 
thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say unto 
you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do 
good to them that hate you, and pray for them that 
persecute you, that ye may be sons of your Father 
who is in heaven : for he maketh his sun to rise on 
the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just 
and the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, 
what reward have ye ? what merit is there in it ? do 
not even the publicans the same % And if ye salute 
your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? 
Do not even the heathen the same \ Be ye therefore 
perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect." 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (CONTINUED) — THE HOUSE 
BUILT UPON A ROCK. 

All Christ's teachings were against the preaching 
and practices of the Scribes and Pharisees. The latter 
took great pride in showing how religious they were. 
They prayed on the street corners, and if they gave 
away anything in charity, or did a good deed, it was 
always done publicly so as to be seen of men. They 
were hypocrites, and no true-hearted worshipers. 
Jesus said : " Take heed that ye do not your alms be- 
fore men, to be seen of them ; otherwise ye have no 
reward of your Father who is in heaven." 

"When, therefore, thou doest alms, do not sound a 
trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do, in the syna- 
gogues and in the streets, that they may have the 
glory of men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their 
reward." 

The blowing of a trumpet is used here as a figure of 
speech. It was customary for a trumpet to be blown 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 105 

before important personages to call attention to them. 
And those who call attention to their own great deeds 
and tell to this one and that one how much good they 
have done in the world, may win the praise of men, 
bnt God is not pleased with them nor their work. 

"When ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites 
are, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues 
and in the broad ways that they may be seen of men. 
Verily I say nnto you they have their reward. But 
thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and 
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father 
who is in secret ; and thy Father who seeth in secret 
shall reward thee openly." 

On the housetop of an Eastern dwelling was a little 
room used for private prayer, and Jesus taught that 
secret prayer was a necessity. We are not to put off 
praying, however, until there is a chance to shut our- 
selves in, for even in a crowd we can be alone with 
God. A pious sailor hid his face in his cap whenever 
he prayed : that was his closet. 

"But in praying use not vain repetitions as the 
heathen do : for they think they shall be heard for 
their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto 
them : for your Father knoweth what things ye have 
need of, before ye ask him." 

But we are to ask, nevertheless. It does not matter 
about the words, but we must approach God in the 
right spirit. 

" Moreover, when ye fast, be not like the hypocrites, 
of a sour countenance : for they disfigure their faces, 
that men may see that they are fasting. But thou, 
when thou fastest, annoint thine head, and wash thy 
face ; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto 
thy Father who is in secret ; and thy Father who 
seeth in secret shall recompense thee." 

" Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where 
moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break 



106 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treas- 
ures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth con- 
sume ; and where thieves do not break through nor 
steal. For where your treasure is, there will your 
heart be also." 

We are not to Ok our hearts on worldly things, that 
perish in the using ; but we must improve our minds 
and hearts, and be interested in holy things, and more 
anxious to please God than man. 

' ' The light (or lamp) of the body is the eye : if, 
therefore, thine eye be single, fixed upon God, and 
seeing him alone, thy whole body shall be full of 
light." Conscience will make thy duty plain to thee. 
But if thine eye be evil, if thou dost not look to God 
for help and strength, thy whole body shall be full of 
darkness. Conscience will not act, and we keep on 
sinning. "If, therefore, the light that is in thee be 
darkness, how great is that darkness." It is the worst 
kind of blindness when conscience is darkened, and 
we are left to the devices of Satan. 

" No man can serve two masters : for either he will 
hate the one, and love the other : or else he will hold 
to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God 
and mammon." Mammon means any idol that takes 
from us the worship due to God. We must choose 
whom we will serve. 

" Therefore, I say unto you, be not anxious for your 
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink : nor 
yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the 
life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" 
They were to trust in God. He who gave the life, 
would provide food to sustain it ; and he who made 
the body would protect it. 

"Behold the fowls of the air : they sow not, neither 
do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your heav- 
enly Father feedeth them. Are not ye much better 
than they? Which of you, by being anxious, can 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, 107 

add one cubit to Ms stature ? " Not to the height of 
the body, but to the length of life. We gain nothing 
by vexing ourselves with worldly cares. 

' ' And why are ye anxious for raiment ? Consider 
the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, 
neither do they spin. Yet I say unto you, that even 
Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of 
these. Wherefore, if God doth so clothe the grass of 
the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into 
the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of 
little faith ?" See how God cares for the birds and 
the iiowers. He will care for you, and supply all your 
needs, if you give your heart to him, and make him 
your chief desire. 

"Be not, therefore, anxious, saying, What shall we 
eat ? or, What shall we drink % or, Wherewithal shall 
we be clothed ? For after all these things do the 
Gentiles, or heathen seek : for your heavenly Father 
knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But 
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- 
ness ; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
Be not, therefore, anxious for the morrow : for the 
morrow will take care of itself. Sufficient unto the 
day is the evil thereof." Each day brings its own 
cares and anxieties ; we are not to borrow trouble. 
God rained doAvn manna upon the children of Israel, 
when they were in the wilderness and in need of food. 
But they were to gather only what they needed for 
one day. There was not a bit to be put aside in anti- 
cipation of a greater need to-morrow. The "daily 
bread ' ' we ask for in our prayers is strength from day 
to day, which God gives according to our needs." 

The Jews were apt to be very severe in their judg- 
ment of others. Jesus said: " Judge not that ye be not 
judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall 
be judged ; and with what measure ye mete it shall 
be measured out to you." It is so in the history of 



108 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the world. Those who are harsh and severe are paid 
back in the long-run. 

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy 
brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in 
thine own eye % Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, 
let me pull out the mote from thine eye ; and behold 
a beam is in thine own eye ? Thou hypocrite ! Cast 
out first the beam from thine own eye ; and then shalt 
thou see clearly to cast out the mote from thy broth- 
er's eye." We must get rid of our own faults before 
we can see clearly enough to help our brother get rid 
of his faults. 

" Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither 
cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample 
them under their feet and turn and rend you." A cer- 
tain part of the sacrifices of the Temple was reserved 
for the priests. This was considered sacred, and not 
to be given to the common people. Even so must the 
precious truths of the gospel, pearls of great price, 
be withheld from those who would reject them with 
contempt and trample them underfoot. 

Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For 
every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh 
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

They were to ask in prayer for what they had need 
of ; peace with God. They were to seek for it as 
something they had lost. They were to knock, as they 
would at a door that was closed against them. Prayer 
means all this, and God always answers prayer in his 
own right way. 

" What man is there of you of whom if his son ask 
bread will he give him a stone \ Or if he ask a fish 
will he give him a serpent \ If ye then, being evil, 
know how to give good gifts unto your children, how 
much moie shall your Father in heaven give good 
things to them that ask him % " All God's gifts are 



THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 109 

good. He makes no mistakes. And when we pray, 
we mnst trust in him, for he knows our needs better 
than we know them ourselves. 

' 'All things, therefore, whatsoever ye would that men 
should do to you, even so do ye also to them, for this 
is the law and the prophets." We must treat people 
as we would like to be treated ourselves. Do to oth- 
ers as you would be done by is the Golden Rule. But 
Christ's teaching goes further than that, and tells us 
to treat people as they would like to be treated them- 
selves. Kindnesses and attentions that you would not 
care for, may be a great comfort and blessing to some 
one else. Jesus says, "Do all the good you can, to 
everybody you can." 

The road to eternal life is represented as narrow ; 
that is, shut in, with no room for any worldly bag- 
gage. We must leave off everything that hinders our 
progress, and keep our eyes fixed on the light that 
guides us. The Pharisees, in the East, would natu- 
rally go through the wide gate, and make a big parade 
where they could be seen of men. 

Jesus said: "Enter ye through the strait or narrow 
gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that 
leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in 
thereat. Because narrow is the gate, and straitened the 
way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ' ' 

We know ourselves how hard it is to do right, and 
how easy it is to do wrong. Crowds go the way of 
sin, and lead low lives, and give not a thought to 
pleasing God ; while comparatively few attend the 
churches, and strive to lead holy lives and to show 
that their greatest desire is to love God and to keep 
his commandments. 

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in 
sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 
By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather 
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ? Even so every 



no THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

good tree bringetli forth good fruit ; but the cor- 
rupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree can- 
not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree 
bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not 
forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. 
Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." 

These false prophets were false teachers who would 
pretend to be disciples of Christ, and would do more 
harm than good. Men, like trees, are known by their 
fruits. From good teachers we are to look for good 
fruit, as the result of their teaching. Do they lead 
good lives % then they will teach others to lead good 
lives. 

' * Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall 
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the 
will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in 
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy 
name % and in thy name done many wonderful works ? 
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: 
depart from me ye that work iniquity." In that day 
must mean the great day of judgment. And many 
professing Christians — outwardly saints and inwardly 
sinners — will cry to Jesus for help, and plead with 
him to remember the good works they did in his name. 
They might deceive others, but him they could not 
deceive. He knows our hearts. 

"Every one, therefore, that heareth these sayings of 
mine, and doeth them, shall be likened to a wise man 
that built his house upon a rock. And the rain descend- 
ed, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and 
beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded 
upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings 
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a 
foolish man, that built his house upon the sand. And 
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds 
blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great 
was the fall of it." 




THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE ROCK. 



HEALING THE LEPER. 113 

Jesus is the rock. If we build on him, we are safe 
for time and eternity. Storms of sorrow, floods of 
grief, trials of all sorts, but rivet us closer to him, and 
we are not swept away. But he who builds on any 
other foundation but Jesus, will have nothing to cling 
to. When he most needs help, help will fail him. A 
good builder looks well to the foundation. If you are 
anxious to build up a good character, you must first 
dig down and clear away all the rubbish. Let the 
four walls of Temperance, Patience, Godliness and 
Charity be made broad, and well cemented together, 
with Jesus Christ the chief corner-stone ; in whom all 
the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto a 
holy temple. 

When Jesus had finished the Sermon on the Mount, 
the multitudes were astonished at his teachings. For 
he taught as one having authority, and not as the 
Scribes. Never man spake like this man. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

HEALING THE LEPER— THE CENTURION' S SERVANT. 
THE WIDOW OF NAIN— MARY MAGDALENE. 

As Jesus came down from the mountain, a great mul- 
titude followed him. And as he was entering one of 
the small villages in that region there came a leper, 
and worshiped him, saying: " Lord, if thou wilt, thou 
canst make us clean." No one else had this power. 
When the dreaded disease, leprosy, came upon a man 
he was shut away from his family and friends, and 
driven out of the town or village in which he resided. 
He was unclean, and could not attend the services in 
the synagogue, and any Jew that touched him would 



ii4 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

be diseased also. Jesus was full of compassion for 
this wretched outcast, and when he had heard his cry 
of faith, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make clean," 
he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying : 
"I will. Be thou clean." And immediately his lep- 
rosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, ' ' See 
thou tell no man ; but go thy way, show thyself to the 
priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded,* for 
a testimony unto them." No leper, or diseased person 
could return to his home and friends without first 
seeing the priest, and getting, as it were, his discharge 
from the hospital. And he was to bring an offering 
to the altar — a gift of praise and thanks to Grod. 

Sin is compared to the disease of leprosy, which 
first shows a small white spot, and then spreads all 
over the body. It unfits us for living with the pure 
and good. It is not safe for them to touch us. There 
is no medicine that can cure a sin-sick soul. Jesus 
alone can take away our sins, and make us white as 
snow ; and this he will do if we go to him in prayer, 
asking to be saved from Satan's power. 

The fame of Jesus spread abroad, and multitudes 
came together to hear, and to be healed of their in- 
firmities. So great was the crowd that Jesus with- 
drew for awhile into a desert place, where he could 
rest and pray to God for strength. Now there was 
in Capernaum a centurion — an officer in charge of a 
hundred men — and a servant of his, of whom he was 
very fond, was sick unto death. The centurion, hear- 
ing that Jesus was in Capernaum, sent elders of the 
Jews to beg him to save the sick man's life. 

The elders urged Jesus to make haste, and said that 
the centurion was well worthy of assistance, for he was 
friendly to the Jews, and had even built them a syna 



* Leviticus, XIV. 



THE CENTURION'S SERVANT. 



"5 



gogue. Jesus said at once : "I will go and heal him." 
And when he was not far from the house the centu- 
rion sent out some of his friends to Jesus with this 
message : "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst 




CHRIST AND THE CENTURION. 



come under my roof, neither thought I myself worthy 
to come unto thee, but only speak the word and my 
servant shall be healed. For I also am a man in 
authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this 
one, 'Go,' and he goeth, and to another, 'Come,' and 
he cometh, and to my servant, 'Do this,' andhedoeth 



n6 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



it." This was as much as to say i " If I can make such 
use of my power, you certainly can give any order 
and have it obeyed at once." 

Jesus was surprised at hearing these words from 
such a man, and he turned and said to the multitude 
that followed him, " I say unto you, that not even in 
Israel have I found such great faith." And they that 




EASTERN BIER. 



were sent out, found on' returning to the house that 
the sick servant was entirely well. 

There was little chance for Jesus to rest now that 
the fame of his miracles had gone abroad, and a short 
time after healing the centurion's servant he left Ca- 
pernaum, and set out for Nain, a small village about 
twenty-live miles distant. His disciples went with 
him, and they were followed by a great multitude. 
As they drew near the gate of the city they met a 



THE WIDOW OF NAIN. 



117 



funeral procession, the body of a dead man being car- 
ried out for burial. He was the only son of his mother, 




THE WIDOW'S SON BROUGHT TO LIFE. 

and she was a widow, and many of his relatives and 
friends were with her. 

When Jesus saw her grief he felt sorry for her and 
said unto her: "Weep not." And he drew near 



n8 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And 
Jesus said : "Young man, I say unto thee, arise." And 
he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And 
he gave him to his mother, alive and well. And great 
fear took hold on all; and they glorified God, saying, 
"A great prophet has arisen among us, and God hath 
visited his people. And this saying concerning him 
went forth throughout Judea, and all the region round 
about." 

It was about this time that John the Baptist, whom 
Herod had shut up in prison, heard of the wonderful 
miracles that Jesus had done. And calling unto him 
two of his disciples, he sent them to Jesus. And when 
the men came unto him, they said : ' ' John the Bap- 
tist hath sent us unto thee, saying, art thou he that 
should come % or do we look for another ? " And while 
they stood there waiting for his answer Jesus cured 
many persons of their diseases, and hurts, and those 
who had lost their reason were made quite well, and 
of sound mind. And to many that were blind he 
gave sight. 

Then Jesus answered John's disciples, and said to 
them, ' ' Go your way, and tell John what things ye 
have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame 
walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the 
poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed 
is he who shall not be offended in me." 

As they departed, Jesus began to speak to the mul- 
titudes concerning John. He said: "What went ye 
out into the wilderness to see ? A reed shaken Avith 
the wind ? But what went ye out to see ? A man 
clothed in soft raiment ? Behold, they that wear soft 
raiment are in kings' houses. But what went ye out 
to see % A prophet % Yea, I say unto you, and more 
than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, 
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who 
shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto 



THE WIDOW OF NAIN. 119 

you, among them that are born of woman there hath 
not risen a greater than John the Baptist, notwith- 
standing that he that is least in the kingdom of heaven 
is greater than he. And from the days of John the 
Baptist nntil now the kingdom of heaven suifereth 
violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the 
prophets and the law — that is the whole Old Testa- 
ment — prophesied until John came. And if ye are 
willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who was to come. 
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is 
like unto children sitting in the market places, who 
call to their fellows, saying, we have piped unto you, 
and you have not danced; we have wailed, and you 
have not mourned. For John came neither eating nor 
drinking, and they say, he is a madman. The Son of 
man came eating and drinking, and they say, behold 
a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of pub- 
licans and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her 
children." Those who have chosen wisely will show 
it by their works. 

Jesus spoke to the people in this way to shame 
them. Many had gone out of curiosity to see John, 
and were neither impressed by his personal appear- 
ance, nor by the words he spoke. They looked for a 
king with wealth at his command, who would set up 
his throne in their midst, and raise the Jews to high 
rank. Jesus knew this, and he said that there was 
never a man born who was greater than John; and 
yet the most humble follower of Christ — he who was 
born of the Spirit, and born into the kingdom of heaven 
— that is, brought into close relations to Christ — 
is in a much higher position than John the Baptist. 
There is no higher title than Christian. 

"The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence," 
means that heaven can only be gained by those who 
are in earnest. It is like a fort, to be assaulted with 



120 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

prayer, and taken by storm. We are to force onr way 
in. The Jews expected that Elijah would rise from 
the dead, hence they would not believe that John was 
that prophet. 

This generation were the people living in Judea at 
this time, many of whom laughed with scorn at the 
common folks who went out to hear John, and be- 
lieved in his teachings. Jesus said it was like one 
set of children inviting another to play with them, 
first at a mock wedding and then at a mock funeral, 
in which the latter would not join. John and Jesus 
were the children calling to the other children — the 
whole gathering of Jews — who were constantly quar- 
relling and disagreeing. They were foolish and not 
wise children. 

Jesus then began to speak against those cities 
wherein his mighty miracles were done because the 
people repented not. And he said, " Woe unto thee 
Chorazin ! woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty 
works which were done in you had been done in 
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago 
in sackcloth and ashes." It was the custom in the 
East for men who were in great sorrow, or who had 
had severe trials, to put on a garment, like a sack, 
with holes for their arms, and to strew ashes on the 
head. 

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, It shall be more 
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment 
than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art ex- 
alted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for 
if the mighty works which have been done in thee had 
been done in Sodom, it would have stood to this day. 
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for 
the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for 
thee." 

Then Jesus said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of 
heaven and earth, because thou didst hide these things 



■ 




... ■ ■ 



THE WIDOW OF NAIN. 123 

from the wise and prudent, and reveal them unto 
babes. Even so, Father; for it was well-pleasing in thy 
sight. All things are delivered unto me by my Father; 
and no man knoweth the Son, except the Father; nei- 
ther knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and 
he to whom the Son will reveal him. 

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 
you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in 
heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls. For my 
yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Not long after this Jesus was invited to dine at the 
house of one Simon, a Pharisee, and he went. Now 
it was the custom in the East for the man of the house 
to receive a distinguished guest with considerable 
honor. The master met him at the door with a kiss 
of welcome. Slaves removed his sandals, washed the 
dust from his feet, and brushed off his clothes, brought 
him water for his hands and face, and then combed 
his hair and beard and perfumed them with sweet- 
smelling oils. The choicest seat was given him at the 
table, and no one partook of the meal until after he 
was seated. 

But when Jesus came to Simon' s house there was 
no one at the door to receive him, and he took off his 
own sandals, and passed on into the dining hall. No 
special place was reserved for him, and he sat down 
in the first vacant place that offered. The guests re- 
clined at meals on a couch that went round the table, 
and rested on their left arm that the right might be 
free to reach the food, and convey it to their months. 
As they lay thus on the couch their feet would be on 
the outside, and in full view of those who passed back 
and forth. 

The doors of the eastern houses are kept open, and 
while the guests were at the table there came up the 
steps from the court-yard a woman who was bold 



124 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

enough to enter the dining-hall. All looked at her in 
surprise, as the Jews did not speak to women in pub- 
lic, and she was never invited to their feasts. 

Worst of all, this woman was a wretched sinner. 
She had led a wicked life, and on that day had gone 
with the crowd, to hear Jesus preach. His words gave 
promise of rest and peace, of forgiveness for past sins. 
As she heard him speak she felt in her soul that he 
was sent from God, and alone could give her strength 
to resist temptation. Throughout all his ministry 
his message was, Come. Come to me. Those words 
drew her. She watched Jesus and followed him to 
Simon's house. 

She thought not of herself nor of the shame of her 
being there. No one spoke as she passed on through 
the room, her eyes fixed on the One she had come to 
see. And she stood at his feet with bended form, and 
wept bitter tears of repentance, for she was indeed 
sorry for her sins. 

The Eastern women were very fond of perfumes, 
and many of them wore a llask of sweet-smelling oil 
around the neck. The flask, which hung below the 
breast, was not always of glass, but sometimes of sil- 
ver and gold, and often of alabaster, the contents be- 
ing used to sweeten their breath and perfume the 
person. 

This woman, who was known as Mary Magdalene — 
or Mary of Magdala — stood behind Jesus. And, as 
the tears gushed from her eyes, they fell on his feet, 
and lest they should annoy him she wiped them off 
with the long tresses of her hair. Then growing bolder 
as her faith increased she fell to kissing his feet, and 
anointed them with the oil from the alabaster flask 
she wore about her neck. She did not speak, neither 
did Jesus. 

The Pharisee who had bidden Jesus to the feast saw 
what took j)lace, and said to himself: "If this man 




MAGDALENE ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS, 



MARY MAGDALENE. 127 

were a prophet he would have known what kind of a 
woman this was. And if he had known he would not 
have allowed her to come near him, or to touch him, 
for she is one of the worst of sinners." 

Jesus read Simon's thoughts, and said to him: 
"Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee." And he 
saith, "Master, say on." And Jesus said: "There 
was a certain man who had two debtors, the one owed 
five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when 
they had no money wherewith to pay their debts he 
forgave them both. Which of them therefore will 
love him the most?" Simon answered: "I suppose 
that he to whom he forgave the most." Jesus said: 
"Thou hast rightly judged." And, turning to the 
woman, he said to Simon : " Seest thou this woman % I 
entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for 
my feet, but she hath bathed my feet with tears, and 
wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest me no kiss ; 
but this woman since the time I came in hath not 
ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst 
not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet 
with precious ointment. Wherefore, I say unto thee, 
her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved 
much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth 
little." The Jews would understand this for they were 
not apt to care much for those who did but little for 
them, but Jesus intended his words should prick Si- 
mon' s conscience. His neglect of Jesus showed that 
he cared very little for him. The kiss of welcome, 
the washing of the feet, and the anointing were not 
absolutely necessary, but were tokens of respect and 
love. 

The poor woman by her acts had shown intense 
gratitude and reverence. And Jesus said unto her : 
"Thy sins have been forgiven." She knew it. She 
felt it in her soul, and now all was rest and peace. 
And those that sat at meat with him, began to say 



128 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

within themselves, "Who is this that even forgiveth 
sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Thy faith hath 
saved thee : go in peace." And she, the iirst one who 
had come to Jesus, asking for spiritual help, passed 
out of darkness into light. By her faith in Jesus she 
had entered into the kingdom of heaven. It was 
heaven to be at peace with God, and to know her sins 
were all forgiven. 



CHAPTER IX. 

JESUS AT THE SEASIDE— HE TEACHES IN PARABLES — 
THE SOWER — THE WHEAT AND THE TARES — 
GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED — HIDDEN LEAVEN — 
HIDDEN TREASURE — THE PEARL OF PRICE — 
THE DRAG NET — THE STORM ON THE LAKE — 
THE HERD OF SWINE. 

Jesus was now on the high tide of. success as a pop- 
ular preacher. Crowds gathered to hear him, and 
listened spell-bound to his words. Although he was 
born of the Jewish race, there was in his face, form, and 
manner, something that distinguished him from other 
men, and commanded the most respectful attention 
from pious worshipers. His voice held them by its 
firm, clear tones, and his words haunted them forever 
after. But the Pharisees were on the Avatch to tangle 
him in his talk, for they were exceedingly jealous of 
him. 

Early one spring morning Jesus and his disciples 
went down by the sea-shore. As he sat there the 
crowd began to gather, and he was forced to enter one 
of the boats, from which he preached to them in par- 
ables. This was the favorite mode of teaching among 
the Jews, but their parables differed from those that 
Jesus used. A parable is a fable, in which a lesson 



JESUS AT THE SEASIDE. 



129 



is taught by a series of word-paintings, and Jesus 
chose the most familiar scenes to illustrate his 
meaning. 

His first parable was that of the Sower. ' ' The Sower 
went forth to sow his seed ; and as he sowed, some 
fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down ; and 
the birds devoured it. Some fell upon the rock ; and 




THE SOWER. 

as soon as it grew up it withered away because it had 
no moisture. And some fell in the midst of thorns, 
and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 
Others fell on good ground, and grew up and brought 
forth fruit a hundred fold. And when he had said 
these things, he cried : "He that hath ears to hear, 
let him hear." 



130 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 

The lesson in this parable was : Take heed how ye 
hear the gospel message ; and although the meaning- 
seems quite clear to us, because of the light thrown 
upon it in the New Testament, it was not so easy for 
those who heard it to understand, and take it home 
to themselves. 

The disciples asked Jesus what this parable meant. 
And he said : " The seed is the Word of God. Those 
by the wayside are they that have heard the word, 
but taken none of it to heart. They are careless and 
indifferent, and Satan puts temptations in their way, 
lest they should believe in Christ and be saved. Those 
on the rock are they who when they have heard the 
word receive it with joy, and for awhile believe in 
Jesus and obey his teachings. But the seed can take 
no root, and when trials and persecutions come these 
tickle followers go back to the world, and give no 
more attention to spiritual things. Some of the seed 
fell in the midst of thorns, and these are they that 
have heard, and go forth earnest and eager, as young 
converts. But they are selfish, and care more to please 
themselves than to please God. The thorns are the 
cares of the world, the love of dress, society, or busi- 
ness, which choke the good seed and keep it from 
coming to perfection. Have you not seen young 
people who gave promise of becoming good Christians, 
workers in the Church and Sunday- School? For 
awhile they were faithful and earnest, but ere long 
they were drawn away, and there was no room in their 
hearts for the growth of spiritual things. 

The seed that fell on the good ground are such as, 
having heard the word with honest and good hearts, 
hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience. 
These are they, who, in the midst of storms and trials, 
stand firm in the lot in which God has placed them, 
and bring forth fruit to his glory. 

Another parable Jesus set before them, saying, 



IESUS AT THE SEASIDE. 131 

The kingdom of heaven is like to a man who sowed 
good seed in his held. But while the men slept, his 
enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and 
went away. But when the blade sprung up and brought 
forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. And the 
servants of the householder came and said unto him: 
" Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field \ How 




THE ENEMY SOWING TARES. 



then, did these tares get in V 9 He said to them: "An 
enemy hath done this % " The servants said unto him: 
" Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up ?" 
But he said: " Nay, lest haply while ye gather up the 
tares ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both 
grow together until the harvest : and in the time of 
the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first 



132 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn th.em : 
but gather the wheat into my barn." 

Another parable he put forth, saying : The king- 
dom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, 
which a man took and sowed in his field : which in- 
deed is the least of all seeds : but when it is grown 
it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, 
so that the birds come and lodge in the branches 
thereof. 

The meaning of this was that those who heard the 
word of God aright, though they had but little faith, 
it would grow and spread out, and become the means 
of bringing others to Christ. 

And still another parable spoke Jesus unto them, 
saying: The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, 
which a woman took, and hid in three measures of 
meal, till it was all leavened. 

Leaven is another name for yeast. Yeast is put 
into flour to make it rise, and only a small quantity 
is needed. Bread is unwholesome without yeast, and 
life is dull and heavy without Jesus in it. He light- 
ens us. There is always evil along with good, but 
the more of Jesus we have in our hearts and lives the 
better can we work against all evil influences. 

Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into 
the house, and his disciples came to him, asking him 
to explain the parable of the tares of the field. Tares 
look so much like the real wheat that it is difficult to 
tell them apart. For this reason they cause a great 
deal of trouble if allowed to grow up in the same 
field. As an old proverb says: "111 weeds grow 
apace." 

Jesus said to his disciples: "He that soweth the 
good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world. 
The good seed are the sons of God — those who grow 
up good Christians — and the tares are the sons of evil 
—those who lead wicked lives. The enemy that sowed 



JESUS AT THE SEASIDE. 



133 



them is the devil." In the world these two classes of 
men grow up side by side, and by many cannot be 
told apart. 

" The harvest is the end of the world, and the reap- 
ers are the angels. As, therefore, the tares are gath- 
ered up and burned in the fire, so shall it be at the 




LEAVEN. 

end of the world. The Son of Man shall send forth 
his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom 
all things that offend— all stumbling-blocks that have 
hindered others from doing good works, and all work- 
ers of iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of 
fire; and there shall be weeping and gnashing of 



134 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the 
sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath 
ears to hear, let him hear." 

Mysterious as these sayings were, the disciples could 
guess at their meaning. Children were taught to be 
obedient to their parents; and sons of God were those 
who obeyed God's word, and did good works in the 




SEEKING GREAT PEARLS. 

world. Those who did nothing to please God, but led 
selfish, sinful lives, would realize at the Last Day how 
wicked they had been, and shame and sorrow would 
burn within them like a furnace of fire that no tears 
could quench. There is no excuse for those who have 
the Gospel preached to them. 
Jesus spoke yet other parables to the disciples in 



JESUS AT THE SEASIDE. 135 

the house, and said to them: " The Kingdom of Heaven 
is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found, 
and kept hid, and in his joy he went and sold all that 
he had and bought that field." 

To find Christ is to find a precious treasure, worth 
all the wealth of this world. 

"Again," said Jesus, "the kingdom of heaven is 
like to a man that is a merchant seeking pearls. And 
when he finds one pearl of great price he goes and 
sells all that he has and buys it." Jesus is the "pearl 
of great price." ~Eo matter what else we have, we are 
poor without him. We are to be as eager to obtain 
this pearl as is the merchant who deals in gems, and 
wants the best thing in the market. It will cost 
something to have Jesus in the soul. He will not 
share a divided heart. Are we determined to have 
him at any cost % Then we will sell all we have — get 
rid of everything that is worthless in comxDarison — 
and buy the one great pearl which so enriches the 
owner. 

"Again," said Jesus, "the kingdom of heaven is 
like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gath- 
ered up every kind of fish. And when it was full, 
they drew it to the shore, and sitting down, gathered 
the good into vessels, and the bad they cast away. 
So shall it be at the end of the world ; the angels shall 
come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. 
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire : and there 
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have ye un- 
derstood all these things % ' ' They say unto him : ' ' Yes, 
Lord." 

All sorts of people are caught in the Gospel net 
and drawn into the various churches, many of whom 
are not true Christians. But we are not to judge them. 
We are to leave that to God, who will separate the 
bad from the good at the Last Day. 

And he said unto them : Therefore every scribe who 



136 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



hath been made a disciple for the kingdom of heaven, 
is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth 
forth ont of his treasure things new and old. Minis- 
ters and teachers are to use their knowledge of the 
Bible to instruct others, and to make clear the truths 
of the Old Testament as well as of the New. Christ 




PARABLE OF THE NET. 

taught his disciples, as he teaches us, that we are not 
to seek him just for our own selfish benefit, but are to 
illuminate and enrich our own lives and brighten 
the lives of those around us. 

From day to day Jesus continued to teach the 
crowds, whom it was not easy to dismiss, even at night- 



fESUS AT THE SEASIDE. 



137 



fall. But one evening Jesus said to his disciples: 
"Let us go over to the other side." And they took 
him as he was into the boat, and made not the least 
preparation for the journey. And there were also 
with him other small boats. 
Ere he left the shore, a certain scribe came and said 




STILLING THE TEMPEST. 

unto him: "Master, I will follow thee whithersoever 
thou goest." And Jesus said to him: " The foxes 
have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the 
Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." Jesus 
meant that if he went with him, he would have to 
accept poverty, and privation, for Jesus knew that the 



138 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Scribe was on the lookout for earthly honors and 
promotion. 

And one of his disciples said to him: "Lord, suffer 
me first to go away and bury my father." But Jesus 
said: "Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their 
own dead." This was to teach that the first and most 
important work in life is to follow Christ. True dis- 
ciples will obey at once, and make no excuses. 

While the boats were on their way over tke sea, or 
Lake of Galilee, there came up a sudden storm, which 
swept over them with great fury. The water came in, 
and the men were in great terror. In the stern of the 
of the boat, on a low bench where the steersman sat to 
rest, was pillowed the head of Jesus. The disciples 
were vexed to find him asleep, for they had sup- 
posed that with Jesus in the boat it would 
surely be plain sailing. And they wakened him, 
and said: "Master, Master, dost thou not care to 
save our lives % ' ' And Jesus arose, and rebuked the 
wind and the waves j and said unto the sea: "Peace, 
be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great 
calm. And Jesus said to the disciples : "Why are ye 
so fearful ? Where is your faith ?" And they mar- 
veled exceedingly, and said one to another: "Who 
then is this man, that even the wind and the sea obey 
him?" 

Christians must not expect to escape trouble. There 
will be storms of sorrow, and great trials, but with 
Jesus in the boat with us we cannot sink. We are 
to charge him with neglect, but to pray to him for 
strength and courage. Life is a stormy sea, and our 
cry at all times should be: "Lord, save, or we perish ! " 

The Sea of Galilee was six miles wide, and the east- 
ern shore was quite thinly inhabited. They landed 
at Gadara, in what was called the land of the 
Gadarenes. 

And as Jesus left the boat there met him a madman, 



JESUS AT THE SEASIDE. 



139 



who came out from among the tombs, and was so 
exceedingly fierce that no one dared pass that way. 

In eastern countries those who were so unfortunate 
as to lose their reason were not shut up, as they are 
with us, but were allowed to roam at will. There were 
no hospitals for these poor affiicted ones, so they took 
refuge in caves and among the tombs, where they 




JESUS AND THE DEMONIAC. 

made night and day hideous with their yells and 
cries. Men had sought to bind this man with ropes or 
chains, but he burst the bonds asunder, and no one 
had strength to tame him. JSTight and day he was in 
the mountains, and among the tombs, crying out and 
cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus 
from afar oif, he ran and fell down at his feet, crying 



140 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

out with a loud voice: "What have I to do with thee, 
Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God ? I beseech in 
God's name, torment me not." For the man had 
writhed in agony, when Jesus said: "Come forth, thou 
unclean spirit." And Jesus asked the demon: "What 
is thy name V And he answered, saying, " My name 
is Legion ; for we are many." And he begged that 
he might not be sent out of the country. 

Now there was near, on the mountain a great herd 
of swine feeding. And the demons besought him, 
saying: "Send us into the swine, that we may enter 
into them." And Jesus said, "Go." And they im- 
mediately left the man and entered into the swine, 
and the herd — which numbered about two thousand 
— ran violently down a steep place, and were drowned 
in the sea. And they that fed them, lied in great 
fright and astonishment, and told it in the city and 
throughout all the country round about. And a great 
mass of people went out to see what had been done. 
And they come to Jesus, and behold he that was pos- 
sessed with the devil ; ay, who had a legion of them, 
was sitting, clothed, and in his right mind ! And those 
who had seen the miracle told what had been done to 
the madman and the swine. And they begged Jesus to 
depart out of their borders. And when Jesus was in 
the boat, the poor demoniac prayed that he might be 
with him. Jesus suffered it not, but said unto him: 
"Go to thy house and unto thy friends, and tell them 
what great things the Lord hath done for thee, and 
how he had mercy upon thee." And he went and 
began to make known in Decapolis the great things 
that Jesus had done for him, and all those who heard 
him marveled greatly. 

It is not known whether this miracle was performed 
at Gadara or Gergesa. It matters little. The people 
were heathens, and thought more of saving their prop- 
erty, than of saving souls. The loss of the swine, from 



HEALING OF THE PARALYTIC. 141 

the sale of which they made much money, was more 
to them than the healing of a madman, and the fear 
of further damage made them long to get rid of this 
worker of miracles. 

So Jesus turned his back on them, and entering the 
boat was soon on his way over to Capernaum. 



CHAPTER X. 

HEALING OF THE PAKALYTIC — MATTHEW'S FEAST — 
THE RAISING OF JAIRUS'S DAUGHTER — TWO 
BLIND MEN — THE DUMB DEMONIAC — JESUS 
SENDS OUT THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 

There were many on the shores of Capernaum 
watching for Jesus' s return. They knew his boat, and 
as soon as they caught sight of the sail the word went 
forth that the Great Teacher was on his way back to 
them. When Jesus landed he went directly to Peter's 
house, where he made his home when in Capernaum. 
There the people gathered so there was not room for 
them, and the court-yard was crowded even out to 
the street. 

The houses in the East were built low, and with a 
flat roof which was reached by a flight of steps inside 
and outside of the house. In the crowd were four men 
who had brought with them a sick friend that Jesus 
might cure him of his dreadful disease. He had been 
stricken with paralysis, and could move neither hand 
nor foot. Being helpless himself, these friends took 
him up, bed and all, and brought him to Jesus, and 
their disappointment was great when they found 
themselves shut out by the crowd. What should they 
do 2 Return without having accomplished their errand ? 
This was not to be thought of for a moment. Quickly 



1 42 THE LIFE OF JES US CHRIS T. 

they devised a plan — for necessity sharpens one's wits 
— and proceeded to carry it out. 

The roof itself was paved with brick or stone, or 
hard cement, and around it was a railing at least 
three feet high. It would have been difficult for them 
to break through this, but they must get to Jesus in 
some way. 

Jesus stood under a covered gallery that ran around 
the court-yard and opened into the various apart- 
ments, so that the members of the family could sit in 
their own rooms, and hear all that was going on out- 
side. The friends of the paralytic took their burden 
up the outer staircase, broke through the tiles on the 
roof, and let down the bed with the sick man upon it 
in front of the place where Christ was sitting. 

We may imagine the surprise of the crowd at this 
strange interruption, the fear and anxiety portrayed 
in the faces of the four men on the roof, the awe- 
struck appeal in the eyes of the poor paralytic. It 
was a strange scene. A deep silence fell on all around, 
broken at last by the voice of Jesus, who, seeing the 
faith of these men, said to the paralytic: "Be of good 
cheer. Thy sins are forgiven thee." 

Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to talk among 
themselves, saying: "Who is this that speaketh blas- 
phemies? God alone can forgive sins." But Jesus, 
perceiving their thoughts, said unto them: "What 
reason ye in your hearts ? For whether is it easier to 
say, thy sins are forgiven thee ? or, Arise and walk \ 
But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power 
upon earth to forgive sins," he said unto the palsied, 
"I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch and 
go unto thine house." And immediately the man, who 
had been a perfectly helpless man, rose up before them, 
and taking up the bed on which he had lain for so 
long a time, set out for his home, praising God as he 
went. And all who saw it were amazed, and they 



HEALING OF THE PARALYTIC. 



43 



glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying : "We 
have seen strange things to-day. We never saw any- 
thing like this before." 

From the honse, Jesus went down to the sea-shore, 
and a great multitude followed him. After he had 




-.--^u a 



■'-^■■:;i T~g r 







THE PARALYTIC CURED. 



taught them for awhile, he went to the house of Mat- 
thew, who had made a great feast and invited Jesus 
and his disciples to attend it. As Matthew was him- 
self a publican, a large company of the same class 
of men were seated at the table. Yet with no show of 



144 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

scorn, Jesus and Ms disciples sat with them at the 
feast. 

This made the Scribes and Pharisees very angry, 
and they found much fault with the disciples, saying: 
" Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and 
sinners?" Jesus heard of their murmurs, and said, 
to them: "They that are in health have no need of a 
physician ; but they that are sick. I am not come to 
call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 

They said unto him: "The disciples of John fast 
often, and make prayers, and likewise also do the dis- 
ciples of the Pharisees. But thy disciples eat and 
drink with publicans and sinners." 

Jesus said to them: u Can ye make the sons of 
the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with 
them \ But there will come a time when the bride- 
groom shall be taken away from them ; and then shall 
they fast in those days." 

Jesus referred to himself as the bridegroom. He 
was with his disciples, and it was a time for rejoicing. 
When he left them, then there would be a good rea- 
son for their fasting. 

He spake also a parable unto them, saying: "No 
man putteth a patch of new cloth upon an old gar- 
ment, for that which nlleth it up taketh from 
the garment, and a worse rent is made. Neither do 
men put new wine in old bottles, else the bottles 
burst, and the wine runs out, and the skins are ruined. 
But they put new wine into fresh bottles, and both 
are preserved together." 

In olden times, bottles were not made of glass, but 
of leather. New wine ferments, or works, and the 
vast amount of gas would stretch the old bottles and 
cause them to burst. But by putting new wine into 
new bottles, both would stretch together. Jesus meant 
to teach by this parable that the new religion would 
break through all the old Jewish rites and ceremo- 




CURED BY TOUCHING HIS GARMENT. 



THE RAISING OF J AIR US' S DAUGHTER. 147 

nies. Those notions of caste, of feeling that one man 
was better than another, must be done away with. 
Jesus came to the poor, and the lowly-minded, and 
they were made new men through him. 

The feast was scarcely over, and Jesus was still 
speaking, when there came to him one of the rulers of 
the synagogue, a man named Jairus. And he fell 
down at the feet of Jesus in great grief, for his only 
daughter, twelve years of age, was dying. And he be- 
sought Jesus, saying : "My little daughter is at the 
point of death ; I pray thee that thou wilt come and 
lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed, and 
brought back to life." 

Jesus went with the ruler, and a great multitude 
followed him, and crowded against him. In the 
throng was a woman who had had a dreadful disease 
for twelve long years. She had been under the care 
of many physicians, had spent all the money she had, 
and was no better, and if anything much worse. When 
she heard of the wonderful things that Jesus had 
done, she thought to herself, perhaps he can cure me! 
He may succeed where every one else has failed! Her 
faith was great, and she said : "I will not trouble 
him, or ask him to put himself out of the way to 
attend to my wants, but so great is his power that if 
I can only touch his robe it will do me good . Who 
am I that he should speak to me ? ' ' Feeling thus , 
she pushed her way through the crowd, and panting 
and breathless came near to Jesus, who moved in 
great haste towards the ruler's house. The wind blew 
his outer robe away from him, and the poor woman, 
watching her chance, touched the hem of his garment 
as it came within reach of her hand. And straightway 
the trouble she had had for twelve years was cured ; 
and she felt that she was entirely well. 

Jesus, being conscious that the power from him had 
gone forth, turned about and facing the crowd, said : 



148 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

' ' Who touched my garments % ' ' His disciples said to 
him : "Thou seest the multitude crowding and push- 
ing against thee, and yet thou sayest, ' Who touched 
me % ' Jesus said : "Somebody touched me;" and 
looked around to see who it was. The woman, feeling 
that she could not hide herself, came fearing and 
trembling, and fell down at his feet. And she told 
him before all the people why she had touched him, 
and how she was healed immediately. Jesus said 
unto her: "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee 
whole ; go in peace." 

While he yet spoke there came a servant from the 
ruler' s house, saying to him , ' ' Thy daughter is dead ; 
trouble not the master." But Jesus, hearing it, said : 
"Fear not ; only believe." And when he came to the 
house, he allowed no one to enter with him save 
Peter, James, and John. 

It was the custom in the East, for hired mourners 
to gather at the house where one lay dead, and to 
weep and wail in token of their sympathy. Already 
were they lamenting the death of Jairus's daughter, 
when Jesus came into the house. And seeing the tu- 
mult, and seeing the people weeping and wailing, he 
said : "Why make ye this noise, and weep so greatly? 
The child is not dead, but sleepeth." And they 
laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all 
out of the house, he taketh the father and mother of 
the child, and with Peter, James, and John entered 
the room where the young girl was. Taking her by the 
hand, Jesus said unto her: "Rise, my child." And 
straightway she arose, and walked, and Avas in her 
usual health. And those who saw her were amazed, 
and filled with awe. And Jesus charged them strictly 
to tell no one of this miracle, lest it should excite the 
people. And he commanded the parents to give the 
child something to eat. They were not to expect the 
child to be kept alive on spiritual food. The body 




JAIRUS DAUGHTER. 



TWO BLIND MEN. 151 

needs nourishing, and the child was to eat her accus- 
tomed food in order to be kept in good health. Those 
who are anxious to save their souls are not to neglect 
their bodies, and go without food. 

Those who saw the girl dead must afterwards have 
seen her alive, and thus the name and fame of Jesus 
spread through all that part of the land. 

Crowded as the day had been with exciting events, 
there was still more to follow. As Jesus left the house 
of the ruler the multitude kept close behind him, and 
with the throng came two blind men, crying : ' ' Have 
mercy on us, thou Son of David ! ' ' These blind beg- 
gars usually sat by the roadside near the large towns, 
and asked aid of all the passers by. Their hearing 
was very sharp, and a great deal of the talk had come 
to their ears, and in the hope of being cured they had 
followed after the great Wonder-worker, who healed 
the sick, and gave the blind their sight. 

Jesus let them cry on until he came to a certain 
house, and then he turned and said to them: "Be- 
lieve ye that I am able to do this V They answered: 
"Yes, Lord." Then touched he their eyes, saying: 
" According to your faith be it done unto you." And 
their eyes were opened ; and Jesus charged them 
strictly, saying: "See that no man know it." But 
their joy was so great that they could not keep silence, 
and they went forth and spread abroad his fame in all 
that country. By this means they brought down on 
Jesus the hatred of his enemies. 

They had no more than gone when there was brought 
unto Jesus a dumb man possessed with a devil. A dumb 
demoniac ! And when the devil was cast out, the 
dumb man spake. And the multitudes marveled, say- 
ing: "Never was such a thing seen in Israel." But 
the Pharisees said : "He casteth out devils because 
he is himself the prince of devils." And Jesus went 
about all the cities and villages, teaching in their 



I $2 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, 
and healing every disease, and every sickness. 

When Jesus looked upon the crowd that followed 
him, he was moved with great pity, because they were 
distressed and scattered about as sheep without a 
shepherd. And he said to his disciples : "The har- 
vest is plenteous but the laborers are few. Pray ye, 
therefore, the Lord of the harvest that he send forth 
laborers into the harvest." 

The people were willing to hear, but could not, unless 
there were more teachers. So he called unto him the 
twelve disciples, and gave them power over unclean 
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease 
and every sickness. 

The names of the twelve apostles were : Simon, who 
was called Peter, and Andrew, his brother ; James, the 
son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip, and 
Bartholomew ; Thomas, and Matthew, the publican ; 
James, the son of Alpheus, and Lebbens, whose sur- 
name was Thaddeus ; Simon, the Canaanite, or Zealot, 
and Judas Iscariot, who turned traitor. 

These twelve Jesus sent forth, charging them not to 
go among the Gentiles, or to enter a city of the Sam- 
aritans, but to go rather to the lost sheep of the house 
of Israel. If they went to to the heathen, or half- 
heathen first, the way would have been closed to the 
hearts of the Jews, who were to form the foundation 
for the Christian church. 

Jesus said to them : ' 'As ye go, preach, saying, c The 
kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse 
the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely ye 
have received, freely give." They were not to labor 
for gain, but what Jesus had taught them they were 
to teach unto others. 

He told them to take no gold, nor silver, nor brass, 
in their purses, nor any wallet for baggage. Neither 
were they to take two coats, nor a change of shoes, 



JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 153 

nor an extra staff, for the workman is worthy of his 
meat. With no luggage they would be free from care, 
and must be content with such food as was given them. 

Jesus said: "Into whatsoever city or town ye enter 
inquire who in it is worthy, and there stay until ye are 
ready to leave the place. As ye enter a house salute it. ' ' 
The Eastern salutation meant: "Peace be unto ye." 
"And if the house be worthy let your peace come upon 
it. But if be not worthy — if the head of the house is 
not a good man — let your peace return to you." They 
were to have no fellowship with those who lived in 
the house. "And whosoever shall not receive you 
as their guests, nor hear your words, when ye depart 
out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from 
your feet. Yerily I say. unto you, it shall be more 
tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the 
day of judgment, than for that city." All these towns 
and cities that refused to hear the Word of God 
preached in them, by Jesus himself, or by his disci- 
ples, were in a short time a heap of ruins. 

Jesus said to the apostles : ' ' Behold, I send you 
forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore 
wise as serpents, and simple as doves." Like serpents, 
they were not to court danger, and were to avoid it as 
much as possible, without being cowardly. Their ene- 
mies were fierce and cruel, and Jesus said : ' ' Beware 
of men" — that is the wolves — " for they will deliver 
you up to the judges, and will scourge you in their 
synagogues. And ye shall be brought before gover- 
nors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them 
and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, be 
not anxious as to how or what ye shall speak, for it 
shall be made known to you in that hour what ye shall 
speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of 
your Father which speaketh in you. And brother 
shall deliver up brother to death, and the father the 
child, and children shall rise up against their parents, 



154 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be 
hated of all men for my name's sake; but he that 
endureth to the end the same shall be saved. 

"But when they persecute you in one city, flee to 
another, for verily I say unto you ye shall not have 
gone through the cities of Israel till the Son of Man 
be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor 
the servant above his lord. It is enough for the dis- 
ciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his 
lord. If they have called the master of the house 
Beelzebub" — the prince of devils — "how much more 
shall they speak evil of those of his household ? ' ' The 
disciples must not expect better treatment than Christ 
received. If wicked men could be harsh and cruel to 
Jesus, the master and Lord of all, they would cer- 
tainly be as severe to his servants and to all who bore 
his name. And they were to learn from him how to 
bear up under their trials. 

Jesus said : "Fear them not, therefore, for there is 
nothing covered that shall not be revealed ; and hid 
that shall not be known. What I tell you in the dark- 
ness that speak ye in the light ; and what ye hear in 
the ear, that make known upon the housetops." They 
were to be bold in preaching ; and the truths that 
Jesus had taught them privately, they were to make 
known publicly, and with a loud voice. 

"Be not afraid of those who kill the body, but are 
not able to kill the soul ; but rather fear him who is 
able to cast both body and soul into hell." Strive to 
please God rather than men, and have more fear of 
his displeasure than of anything that man can do unto 
you. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?" 
These birds are so small that they are always sold in 
pairs. "Yet, small as they are, not one of them falls 
to the ground without the knowledge of your Heav- 
enly Father The very hairs of your head are all num- 
bered." Gfod takes special care of you. "Be not 



JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 155 

afraid, therefore, ye are of more value than many 
sparrows. Every one, therefore, who shall confess 
me before men, him will I also confess before my 
Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny 
me before men, him Avill I also deny before my Father 
who is in heaven." We confess Christ by our daily 
walk and conversation, and by our acts and deeds; 
and we deny him by our un- Christian lives. 

Jesus said : "Think not that I came to send peace 
on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword.' For 
I came to set a man at variance against his father, 
and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter- 
in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes 
shall be they of his own household. He that loveth 
father and mother more than me is not worthy of me; 
and he that loveth son and daughter more than me is 
not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, 
and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." 

It is not always easy to follow Christ. There may 
be stumbling-blocks in the way. Father or mother 
may be opposed to it, and sisters and brothers may 
treat the idea with scorn, and make it very hard for 
the young convert to "stand up for Jesus." 

"He that loveth father or mother more than me is 
not worthy of me ; and he that loveth son or daugh- 
ter more than me is not worthy of me." Religion 
often causes breaking up of family ties. If any trouble 
arises, we are not for the sake of peace to give up 
Jesus. We are to love our own, but to love them less 
than we do Jesus. "He that taketh not his cross, and 
followeth after me, is not worthy of me." 

Here was a foreshadowing, a hint, of the manner of 
his own death. As I bear my cross, do you bear yours, 
and prove that you are worthy to be my disciple. 
"He that findeth his life shall lose it : and he that 
loseth his life for my sake shall find it." 

Christ must be first in our thoughts, and before all 



156 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the pleasures and comforts of this life. Greater gain 
will be ours through serving him, and we will be 
happy in this life and in the life to come. 

"He that receiveth you, receiveth me : and he that 
receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that re- 
ceiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall re- 
ceive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a 
righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall 
receive a righteous man's reward." 

Wherever there was love and regard for Christ 
there would his disciples be received with favor. The 
message they brought would be a blessing to all hearts. 

' ' And whosoever shall give unto one of these little 
ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disci- 
ple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his 
reward." The smallest kindness done to one of these 
disciples, for the master's sake, will be remembered 
and rewarded. We are better for every act of kind- 
ness we perform. We are not to feel self-satisfied, 
there is no gain in that ; but if we can help along the 
cause of Christ by helping those who are bearing the 
gospel message, we are doing a good work, and our 
hearts will be comforted and strengthened. 



CHAPTER XL 

THE POOL OF BETHESDA — HEALINO OF THE HELPLESS 
CRIPPLE — THE DISCOURSE THAT FOLLOWED — 
JESUS RETURNS TO GALILEE — TWELVE APOSTLES 
SENT OUT — THE MURDER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

After Jesus had sent out the twelve apostles, he 
continued his labors as before, and visited the cities 
through Galilee, where the people were awaiting for 
him, and anxious to hear him. It was now the autumn 



THE POOL OF BETHESDA. 



157 



of the year, and the fertile fields were clothed in their 
richest beauty. 

There was at this time a feast in Jerusalem. The 
name of the feast is not exactly known, but is sup- 




THE POOL OF BETHESDA. 



posed to be the Feast of Purim, which commemorated 
the deliverance of the Jews, through the influence of 
Queen Esther. It was not held in the Temple, but in 
private houses, and though it had become rather a 
gay festival, many devout Jews attended it with 



158 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

thankful recollections of God's dealing with Haman 
and Mordecai. 

Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the city, and close 
to the Sheep Gate, was a pool, inclosed with live 
porches, which bore the name of Bethesda, or House 
of Mercy. In the live porches surrounding this pool 
lay a. great multitude of sick people — the blind, the 
lame, and those whose bodies or limbs were wasted — 
waiting to be healed. It was the popular idea that 
an angel came down and stirred the water, causing it 
to bubble up, and only he Avho lirst stepped into the 
pool would be cured. We may imagine the scene when 
the water began bubbling up, or was "troubled," as 
the people said. Many springs have this way of gush- 
ing from time to time, and angels have nothing to do 
with the movement. But what the people could not 
understand they laid to the angels, and it was a fact 
that at certain periods the pool was more thoroughly 
charged with gas, and wonderful cures were performed. 
At such times the crowding and pushing must 
have been great, and the wails and cries of the disap- 
pointed ones must have filled the air. 

Among this sickly crowd was one who had been 
half paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Buoyed up with 
hope, and then cast down with disappointment, he 
had visited this health resort year after year, and still 
was no better. 

Jesus had probably been among the wealthy Jews, 
and wearied of them. They were self-satisfied and 
trilling, and so he turned from them on the Sabbath, 
and went down among the sick and suffering. And 
he saw the half -paralyzed man lying there, and ob- 
serving that he had been a long time in that state, he 
said : ' ' Wilt thou be made whole ? Do you want to 
be well?" 

The sick man answered him : ' ' Sir, I have no friend 
to hurry me into the pool when the water is troubled ; 



HEALING OF THE HELPLESS CRIPPLE. 159 

but while I am on the way another steps down before 
me." He thought he must do something himself to 
effect a cure, but though his will was strong, he had 
not the physical strength. He thought only of his 
bodily ailments : but the question of Jesus referred 
to his soul's health. "Do you want to be a Christian? 
Do you want to be cleansed from your sins? " 

Jesus said to the sick man: "Rise, take up thy 
bed, and walk." He did not hesitate, but rose at 
once, as Jesus had commanded. And immediately 
he was made well ; and rolling up the mattress which 
laid upon the ground, had formed his bed, he walked 
off with it upon his shoulders. 

It was the Sabbath day on which this miracle was 
performed, and the law of Moses forbade that any 
work should be done on that day. As he went out on 
the street, he was met by a number of Jews — Priests, 
Levites, and Pharisees — who said unto him that was 
cured : " It is the Sabbath day, and it is not lawful 
for thee to take up thy bed." 

But he answered them : "He that made me whole, 
the same said unto me, ' Take up thy bed and walk.' " 
These men clung to the law of Moses, and would not 
permit any different teaching. So they asked him : 
' ' Who is the man, that said unto thee ' Take up thy 
bed and walk V " But he that was healed knew not 
who he was. The man had never seen him before, 
and Jesus had slipped out of the crowd and was soon 
out of sight. 

Some time afterwards when Jesus was in the Temple- 
Courts he saw this same man whom he had healed at 
Bethesda, and he said unto him : "Behold, thou hast 
been made whole ; sin no more, that some worse thing 
come not unto thee. ' ' The man went away, and told the 
Jews that it was Jesus who made him whole. And for 
this cause did the Jews persecute Jesus, because he 
did these things on the Sabbath day. And they stood 



160 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

face to face with him and charged him with being a 
great sinner. 

Jesus answered them : "My Father worketh until 
now; I also work." God works right on, and takes 
no rest. Jesus came on earth to do his will ; and if 
he gave rest from sin on the Sabbath day, it made the 
day more glorious. He could break no law. 

For this cause, therefore, the Jews sought the more 
to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, 
but also called God his own Father, making himself 
equal with God. 

Then answered Jesus, and said unto them : "Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of 
himself but only that which he seeth the Father do ; 
for what things soever he doeth, these things the 
Son also in like manner doeth. For the Father loveth 
the Son, and showeth him all things that he himself 
doeth. And he will show him greater works than 
these, that ye may marvel." They would be amazed 
and awe-stricken. 

" For as the Father raiseth up the dead and maketh 
them live, so the Son also putteth new life into those 
whom he will. For the Father judgethno one, but 
hath given all judgment unto the Son. That all may 
know the Son even as they know the Father. He that 
knoweth not the Son, honoreth not the Father which 
sent him. 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my 
word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal 
life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed 
out of death into life." 

Those who believe in Jesus, are free from the old 
Mosaic law. It becomes a dead letter to them, and 
they walk in a new life, for a new spirit works within 
them. 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, an hour cometh, 
and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of 



THE DISCOURSE THAT FOLLOWED. 161 

the Son of G-od ; and they that have heard shall 
live. For even as the Father hath life in himself, 
so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself. 
And he gave him anthority to execute judgment, be- 
cause he is a Son of Man.'- He is the Giver of Life to 
those who hear his voice and he is also the judge of 
men. 

"Marvel not at this, for an hour cometh in which 
all that are in their graves shall hear his voice; and 
they that have done good shall go forth unto a resur- 
rection of life ; and they that have done evil unto a 
resurrection of judgment. I can of mine own self do 
nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is 
just, because I seek not mine own will, but the will 
of him that sent me." 

In the courts of law a man cannot plead his own 
cause. He must have witnesses to testify in his be- 
half ; that is, to speak for him, and tell of his previ- 
ous good character. Jesus said : " If I bear witness 
concerning myself, my witness is not true. Another 
beareth witness concerning me, and I know that the 
witness he witnesseth concerning me is true. Ye have 
sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the 
truth. But the witness that I have is greater than 
man; howbeit these things I say that ye may be 
saved. He was a burning and a shining light, and ye 
were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." 
John's work had been to point to Jesus. He was the 
lamp God had lighted to guide men in the right path. 
But they thought more of John himself than they 
did of his message, and their souls were not saved. 

Jesus said : ' ' But the witness that I have is greater 
than that of John ; for the works the Father hath given 
me to do, the very works that I do, bear witness concern- 
ing me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father 
who sent me, he hath borne witness concerning me. 
Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen 



162 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

his form. And ye have not his word abiding in yon, 
becanse him whom he sent ye believe not." Every 
word and deed of Jesus showed that he was doing 
God's work, and that God had sent him. But the 
hearts of the Jews had not been touched, nor their 
eyes opened, else they would have recognized God's 
voice when Jesus spoke, and would have seen the 
Father manifested in the Son. 

" Ye search the Scriptures," said Jesus, "because 
ye think that in them ye have eternal life : and it is 
they that bear witness concerning me. And ye will 
not come to me that ye may have life." The Jews 
searched, that is, studied the sacred writings, for it 
was their belief that if the words of the law were im- 
printed on their hearts they were safe for this life and 
for the life to come. But it is not so. Eternal life 
can only come through Jesus ; and if they had studied 
the word of God aright they would have been looking 
for Jesus and given him a royal welcome. Not that 
he was self-seeking. He cared not for the praise and 
glory of men. " But I know you," he said, " that ye 
have not the love of God in your hearts. I am come 
in my Father's name, and ye receive me not. If an- 
other shall come in his own name, him ye receive. 
How can ye believe who seek the glory of men rather 
than the glory of God ? Do not think that I will ac- 
cuse you to the Father. There is one that accuseth 
you, even Moses in whom ye trust. For if ye believed 
Moses, ye would believe me ; for he wrote concerning 
me. But if ye believe not his writings, how will ye 
believe my words % " 

Never before had Jesus spoken so plainly, and his 
words were likely to call upon himself the intense 
hatred of the Jews. He had dared to make himself 
equal with God, and this in their eyes was the great- 
est of crimes. Jesus knew that it would not be safe 
for him to remain in Jerusalem, for already the Scribes 



JESUS RETURNS TO GALILEE. 163 

and Pharisees were plotting to put Mm to death. 
Every moment his life was in danger. So while the 
crowd was held spellbound by the majesty of his 
presence, and the eloquence of his words, he slipped 
away without being seen, and went back into 
Galilee. 

Meanwhile John the Baptist had been shut up in 
prison, by order of Herod Antipas, the son of Herod 
the Great. He had expected to succeed his father as 
King of Judea, but Herod the Great, a few months 
before his death, put the name of Archelaus, another 
son, in place of Antipas, and the latter became ' ' Te- 
trarch," or Governor, over the fourth part of the Ro- 
man province. He took his ill-fortune in good part, 
and made a faithful Governor over Galilee and Perea. 
He fortified the capital, and built up Tiberias, where 
he had a splendid palace. He had two other palaces, 
one at Julias, and the other at Machaerus, where he 
spent considerable of his time. He was not so cruel 
as his father, but he was a weak man and very super- 
stitious. 

He made frequent visits to the Emperor of Rome, 
and at such times was the guest of his brother Herod 
Philij), who had been disinherited by his father, and 
lived as a private person. In return for the hospital- 
ity received, Herod Antipas fell in love with Philip's 
wife, Herodias, notwithstanding he had a wife of his 
own, to whom he had been married for many years. 
But the Herods were a wicked race, and given to all 
sorts of vices. 

Herodias herself was a wicked and ambitious wo- 
man, and preferred to reign as a Princess, even though 
she committed sin in order to obtain the position. 
Herod promised to marry her, and to get a divorce 
from his true wife, who was an Arabian princess. 
She, however, did not wait to be divorced, but, feel- 
ing herself insulted, tied with great haste to her 



1 64 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

father, who broke off at once all friendly relations 
with his son-in-law, and afterwards declared war 
against him. 

John' s preaching had attracted Herod's attention, 
and out of curiosity he had sent for him to come to 
the castle, and really seemed to be under a good influ- 
ence. But there was one thing he did not like. John 
was a bold preacher, and not afraid to speak the truth 
even before princes. Herod had committed a great 
crime in marrying Herodias, who was not only his 
brother's wife but his own niece, and John had fre- 
quently said to him: " It is not lawful for thee to have 
thy brother's wife." 

This made Herodias very angry, and she desired 
that John should be put to death ; but this Herod 
would not do. He feared John, knowing him to be a 
just and holy man, and he also feared the multitude 
who regarded him as a prophet. But for her sake he 
had John seized, and bound and put in one of the 
deep dungeons of Fort Macluerus. What a cruel fate 
for one who had lived all his life out of doors, and 
longed to be at work for Jesus, and to lead men to 
repentance. 

It was while shut up in this dark dungeon that he 
heard of the fame of Jesus, and of the crowds that 
followed after him. And he sent messengers to in- 
quire: "Art thou the coming One? or do we wait for 
another % ' ' John was in doubt. His own trial had 
weakened his faith somewhat. But before the mes- 
sengers returned it had been made clear to him 
that his life work was done. The Messiah had come. 

It was in the early spring, and near the time for the 
Passover, when Herod made a feast on the anniver- 
sary of his coming into power, as Tetrarch. For many 
months Herodias had sought to rid herself of John 
the Baptist, for whom she had an intense hatred, and 
now a wicked plan formed itself in her mind. At the 




SALOME BEFORE HEROD, 



THE MURDER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 167 

time of her marriage to Herod Antipas she had a little 
daughter named Salome, who had now grown into a 
tall and graceful maiden. The feast was at its height. 
All the lords of Herod's court, the military officers, 
and chief men of Galilee, were there, and the sounds of 
music and shouts of revelry were heard far beyond 
the castle walls. The guests had been served with the 
choicest viands and the costliest wines, and every 
sense had been gratified. The king could oifer noth- 
ing further. 

This then was Herodias's hour. She sent her beau- 
tiful young daughter to dance before Herod and his 
guests. The girl was as bold and brazen as her 
mother, and her dancing pleased the half-intoxicated 
men who sat at the king's table. Her coming was an 
agreeable surprise, and Herod swore with a loud voice 
so that all could hear that he would give the girl what- 
ever she asked of him. 

Salome stole out to ask her mother what it should 
be ; what reward should she claim from the king ? 
Her mother said: "Ask for the head of John the 
Baptist." The girl did not shrink with horror from 
such a request, but came back at once to Herod, and 
said: " Bring me here on a platter the head of John 
the Baptist." 

There was silence for a few moments in the castle 
hall. All were roused from their half-drunken stupor 
by the strange request. What would Herod do ? For 
months he had tried his best to prevent this thing, 
and in his heart he dreaded to rouse the enmity of the 
people. But he was weak and superstitious, and be- 
cause he had sworn to the girl, and before the assem- 
bly, that he would give her what she asked for, he 
felt bound to redeem his pledge. So he sent and had 
John beheaded in the prison, allowing him no time to 
prepare for death, and his head was brought in on a 
large dish, and given to the maiden. And she took 



68 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



the ghastly burden in her hands, and carried it to her 
mother. 

When John's friends, his faithful disciples, heard 
of it they came and reverently bore away the headless 
corpse and gave it proper burial, and went and told 
Jesus, who decided at once to leave Capernaum. 

About the same time the apostles of Jesus return- 




HERODIAS WITH THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 



ed from their mission, and told him all that they had 
done and taught. They had preached repentance, 
had healed the sick, and cast out devils, and might 
have done much more had their faith been stronger. 
Meanwhile Herod, the Tetrarch, had heard of Jesus, 
and of the wonderful miracles that he performed. 
And he was perplexed, because that some had said 
that John had risen from the dead, and others that 



FIVE THOUSAND FED. 169 

Elijah., or some one of the old prophets had appeared. 
Herod said : " John I beheaded ; bnt who is this of 
whom I hear such things ? " And he was anxious to 
see Jesus. Not that his soul might be cleansed, and be 
saved from the power of Satan, but to satisfy himself 
that John had not risen from the dead to torment 
him. 

Herod lived a wicked life, and died a violent death, 
and in a few years his beautiful palaces were a heap 
of ruins. 



CHAPTER XII. 

FIVE THOUSAND FED — JESUS WALKS ON THE SEA — THE 
DISCOURSE AT CAPERNAUM ABOUT EATING WITH 
UNWASHED HANDS. 

Jesus, hearing of Herod's alarm, resolved at once 
to leave Capernaum, fearing there might be a rising 
among John's disciples to avenge his cruel murder. 
The twelve apostles had returned from their mission, 
and, although very weary, were kept so busy with 
crowds coining and going that they had no chance to 
rest, and scarcely time to eat. 

So Jesus said to them: " Come ye, by yourselves, 
into a desert place, and rest awhile apart from the 
crowd." And they went in a boat to a quiet place on 
the eastern shore of the lake, near Bethsaida. As 
soon as the people saw them departing, they ran to- 
gether there on foot, by the land way, and some of 
them reached the place in time to welcome those in 
the boat. 

Jesus went up among the hills to rest and pray, and 
there he sat awhile and taught his disciples. When 



i7o THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, 

he came forth from his retirement, and saw the great 
crowds that had gathered, he was moved with com- 
passion for them, for they seemed as sheep without a 
shepherd. It was an opportunity not to be lost. 
There was no time for him to rest. His work must 
go on. 

The Passover was near at hand, and thoughts of 
that and the scenes that would follow, must have 
tilled his mind. And as he moved among the multi- 
tude, when the day was far spent, he turned to Philip 
and said : ' ' Where are we to get bread that these may 
eat V ' This was to test Philip, for Jesus himself knew 
what he was about to do. 

Philip answered him : "Two hundred pennyworth 
of bread is not sufficient for them, if each one had 
ever so little." The question went around among the 
disciples. They said: "This is a desert place; and 
the day is far spent. Send them away, that they may 
go into the country round about, and into the vil- 
lages, and buy themselves somewhat to eat. ' ' But they 
were not to buy. The disciples must give them. 
"Shall we go and buy food for them?" they asked. 
No. That was not what Jesus meant. They must 
give of their own store. How many loaves had they ? 
Let them go and see. 

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, found a fisher lad 
who had live barley loaves and two fishes. "But Avhat 
are they," said Andrew, "among so many?" 

Jesus said: "Make the people sit down." And 
they were seated on the grass in companies of a hun- 
dred, and of fifties. And Jesus took the five loaves 
and two fishes, and looking up to heaven blessed and 
brake them, and gave them to his disciples to set be- 
fore the people. And they did all eat and were filled. 

Then Jesus said to his disciples : " Gather together 
the pieces that nothing be lost." And they took up 
twelve baskets full of that which remained of the 



FIVE THOUSAND FED. 



17: 



loaves and fishes. And they that did eat were about 
five thousand men, women, and children. 

This wonderful miracle made a great impression 
upon the people, and they said: "This is truly the 




FEEDING THE MULTITUDE, 



Prophet, the coming One for whom the world has 
waited." As far back as the days of Moses it had 
been said to the children of Israel: "The Lord thy 
Grod will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst 



172 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me ; unto him ye 
shall hearken." Others had foretold of the coming 
of One who should do wonderful things ; and the 
people felt sure that he was now with them in the 
person of Jesus. 

Jesus perceived that it was their intention to carry 
him off by force to Jerusalem and make him their 
king. This would surely bring on a conflict with the 
Roman Government, and hasten his own death. The 
disciples shared in the excitement; so Jesus com- 
manded the twelve to leave him, and go down to 
Capernaum, and wait for him there. After which he 
dismissed the multitudes and went up into the mount 
to pray where none but God could see him. 

Night came on, and there he was all alone with his 
Heavenly Father. The labors of the day had been 
great, and he needed to be strengthened and refreshed 
with prayer: Hardly had the disciples taken to 
their boat than the sky became overcast, and the wind 
blew a gale. All night they labored in the midst of a 
tempestuous sea, and at daybreak were only half way 
across the lake, a distance of three miles. Jesus had 
looked out after them, and seen how hard they rowed 
against wind and tide. They had used their own 
strength as far as it would go, and now they had need 
of him. 

It was in the dusk of the morning, when the sun 
was expected soon to rise, that the disciples looked 
up and saw a form walking by them on the sea. It 
came near the boat, and they, supposing it was a ghost, 
cried out in great fear. But a well-known voice spoke 
to them, saying: "Be of good cheer. It is I ; be not 
afraid!" Peter, greatly excited, exclaimed: "Lord, 
if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters." 
Jesus said, " Come." And going down from the boat, 
Peter walked on the waters to go to Jesus. 

As long as his eyes were lixed on Jesus all went 




JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA. 



JESUS WALKS ON THE SEA. 175 

well, but as soon as lie noticed the great waves and 
saw how rough the wind was, he began to sink, and 
cried out: "Lord, save me!" Straightway Jesus 
stretched forth his hand and took hold of him, and 
said: u thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou 
doubt?" And when they came into the boat the 
wind ceased, and the sea was calm. And all those 
that were in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying : " Of 
a truth thou art the Son of God." 

We are to learn from this that Jesus is always 
ready to help us. He may seem to leave us, but it is 
only that we may use our own efforts, and pray the 
more earnestly. ' ' Weeping may endure for a night, 
but joy cometh in the morning." When tossed about 
with great waves of trouble, and feeling ready to sink, 
one cry for help will bring him to our side, and his 
outstretched hand will save us from the doubts or sins 
that drag us down. In all the storms of life, if we but 
listen, we can hear the voice of Jesus saying : " Be of 
good cheer. Fear not. I am with thee." 

When they had crossed over to the land, they came 
to Gfennesaret, and as soon as the people heard of it 
they carried their sick ones around on beds to the 
place where he was, and, through all the towns and 
villages where he was to pass, they laid the sick in the 
market places that they might touch, if it were, the 
border of his garment. And as many as touched him 
were healed of their diseases. 

The next day when the multitudes saw that there 
was no other boat save the one the disciples had gone 
off in, and that Jesus went not with them, they, suppos- 
ing he was somewhere among the hills, set out, forth- 
with to look for him. While they were still in wonder 
and doubt, other boats came from Tiberias, and the 
boatmen told the people that neither Jesus nor his 
disciples had gone there. So as many as could get 
into the small boats, came to Capernaum, seeking for 



176 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Jesus. And, when they found him, they said unto 
him : ' ' Rabbi, whence comest thou hither % ' ' 

Jesus answered them and said : ' ' Yerily, verily, I 
say unto you, ye seek me not because ye saw the mir 
acles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and were 
satisfied. Work not for the food which perisheth, 
but for that food which abideth unto eternal life, 
which the Son of Man shall give unto you ; for on 
him the Father' s seal is set. ' ' 

Christ is meat and drink to the believer. He gives 
himself to us, but we must first work hard to put 
everything out of the way that hinders his approach. 
We must make a place worthy of the gift. But these 
people of the East were fond of magic, and many of 
those who had seen the signs and wonders Jesus 
had done, were anxious to learn the secret of those 
mysteries, so that they might increase their wealth, 
and exhibit their powers. They said therefore to Jesus: 
6 ' What must we do that we may work the works of 
God ? ' ' Jesus answered : ' ' This is the work of God, 
that ye believe in him whom he sent." They said : 
" What then doest thou as a sign that we may see 
and believe thee '? What dost thou work ? Our fathers 
did eat manna in the wilderness, as it is written : 
' He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.' " Jesus 
said unto them : ' ' Yerily, verily, I say unto you, 
Moses gave you not the bread from heaven, but my 
Father giveth you the bread out of heaven — the true 
bread. For the bread of God is that which cometh 
down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world." 
They said unto him : ' ' Lord, evermore give us this 
bread." 

Jesus said unto them : " I am the bread of life ; he 
that cometh to me shall never hunger ; and he that 
believeth in me shall never thirst. But I would have 
you know that ye have indeed seen me, and believe 
not. All that which the Father giveth me shall come 



THE DISCOURSE AT CAPERNAUM. 179 

to me ; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise 
cast out. For I came out of heaven not to do mine 
own will, bnt the will of him that sent me. And this 
is the will of him that sent me, that of all which he 
hath given me I should lose nothing, bnt shonld raise 
it np at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, 
that every one who beholdeth the Son and believeth 
in him shonld have eternal life ; and that I shonld 
raise him np at the last day." 

What the Jews needed was faith in the Lord Jesns. 
They had seen all the signs and wonders he did, and 
yet did not believe in him, or obey God's Word. Jesns 
calls himself the Bread of Life. We depend on 
bread to satisfy onr hunger. When the children of 
Israel Avere in the wilderness without food, God rained 
doAvn manna from heaven, which they ate in place of 
bread. This manna was but a sign, or symbol of the 
bread that God would send down out of heaven to 
save the souls of men. Not only to give them peace 
and comfort in this life, but to prepare them for an 
endless life in heaven. 

Some of the Jews understood Jesus, and saw that 
his words had a spiritual meaning. But there were 
others, open enemies of Jesus, who were offended at 
his speech. They murmured among themselves, and 
said: "Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose 
father and mother we know ? How then can he say 
that he came down out of heaven ? " 

Jesus answered them and said: " Murmur not 
among yourselves. No one can come to me except 
the Father which sent me shall have drawn him : and 
I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in 
the prophets, 'They shall all be taught of God.' 
Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath 
learned, cometh unto me. Not that any one hath 
seen the Father, save he which is from God, he hath 
seen the Father. Verily, verily, he that believeth hath 



180 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers 
did eat manna in the wilderness and died. This is 
the bread which cometh out of heaven, that any one 
may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living 
bread which came down out of heaven. If any 
one eat of this bread he shall live forever. The 
bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of 
the world." 

The Jews took hold of these words, and said among 
themselves : ' ' How can this man give us his flesh to 
eat?" Jesus therefore said unto them: "Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the 
Son of Man and drink of his blood, ye have no life in 
yourselves. Every one that eateth my flesh and drink- 
eth my blood hath eternal life ; and I will raise him 
up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, 
and my blood is drink indeed." 

They must feed on him in their hearts by faith ; 
make Jesus a part of themselves, just as what they 
ate and drank became a part of themselves. 

"He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, 
dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father 
sent me, and I live because of the Father ; . so he that 
eateth me, he also shall live because of me. This is 
the bread which came out of heaven ; not as your 
fathers did eat and died. He that eateth this bread 
shall live forever." 

These things he said as he was teaching in a syn- 
agogue at Capernaum. And many of the disciples 
when they heard this, said : "This is an hard saying; 
who can hear him \ ' ' They did not hear aright, and 
therefore did not understand. But Jesus knowing in 
himself that his disciples murmured concerning this 
he said unto them : " Does this offend you % Does this 
cause you to stumble % What then if ye shall see the 
Son of Man ascending where he was before ?" Then 
the sense they had put upon his words would have no 






THE DISCOURSE AT CAPERNAUM. 181 

meaning. For how could tliey eat the flesh of one 
who was not with them ? 

Jesus said : " It is the spirit that maketh life ; the 
fiesh profiteth nothing. The words that I spake unto 
you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are 
some of you that believe not." 

For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were 
who believed not, and who it was that would betray 
him. And he said : "For this cause have I said unto 
you that no one can come unto me, except the spirit 
have been given unto him by the Father." Their 
hearts had not been prepared to receive the words of 
Jesus. 

Upon this, many of those who had set out to follow 
Jesus and to be his disciples went back to their 
homes and their trades, and walked no longer with 
him. 

Jesus therefore said unto the twelve apostles : 
" Would ye also go away % Is it your wish to leave 
me % " Simon Peter answered him : " Lord to whom 
shall we go, if we leave thee % Thou hast the words 
of eternal life. And we believe and know that thou 
art the Holy One of God." 

Jesus answered them: "Did not I choose you 
twelve \ and one of you is a devil \ ' ' Now he spoke 
of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot ; for he was about 
to betray him, being one of the twelve. Yet none of 
the disciples knew of it, save only Judas himself. 

Then came to Jesus certain Scribes and Pharisees 
who had come up from Jerusalem on purpose to watch 
him, and to find an excuse for putting him out of the 
way. They had heard much of the wonderful miracle 
of the feeding of the five thousand, and were quite 
offended that Jesus should permit his disciples to eat 
without washing their hands. 

The custom of washing the hands before meals had 
come down to them from the time of Moses, and the 



1 82 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Jews were very particular in regard to it. To touch 
food with unclean hands was thought to be a great 
sin, and one not likely to go unpunished. Stories 
were told of loss of property, sickness, and terrible 
calamities, that were brought about by eating food 
without first washing the hands. 

Therefore the Scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus, 
saying: "Why do your disciples break the law of 
Moses, for they wash not their hands when they eat 
bread?" Jesus said : "Why do ye break the com- 
mandments of God, for the sake of your old custom % 
For God said : Honor thy father and thy mother ; and 
he that speaketh evil of father or mother shall surely 
die." 

But the Jews had made a law that if any one dedi- 
cated all his property to God he would be free from 
the care of his parents. 

Jesus therefore said unto them: " Ye hypocrites ! 
Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying : ' This 
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and 
honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from 
me. In vain do they worship me, with their false 
teachings.' " 

When he had called the people unto him, he said : 
"Hear and understand. Not that which entereth into 
the mouth dehleth the man, but that which cometh 
out of the man." 

The disciples said to him : ' ' Knowest thou that the 
Pharisees took offence when they heard this saying V ' 
Jesus said : "Let them alone : they are blind guides ; 
and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into 
the pit." 

When they had left the multitude and entered into 
the house, Peter came to Jesus and asked him to 
explain to the twelve the meaning of the parable. 
Jesus said, "Even yet are ye also without under- 
standing? " Had they been more spiritually minded 



IN THE CORNFIELD. 183 

tliey would surely have known what was meant. 
Everything that goes into the mouth in the shape of 
food, affects the body, and not the heart. But out of 
the heart come evil thoughts, murders, thefts, all 
sorts of crimes, frauds, and blasphemies. 

These are the things that make a man unclean in 
the sight of God, and a clean heart is more necessary 
than clean hands. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

IN THE COENFIELD — THE LOED'S PEAYEE — THE BLIND 
AND DUMB DEMONIAC — THE PHAEISEES ASK 
FOE A SIGN — JESUS DINES WITH SCEIBES AND 
PHAEISEES — UNWASHED HANDS — ANGEB OF 
HIS ENEMIES — THE PAEABLE OF THE EICH 
FOOL — BE YE ALSO EEADY. 

The Jews were very strict in keeping the Sabbath, 
and would have no work done inside or outside of the 
house on that day. They had already found much 
cause for complaint because Jesus had healed the sick 
on the Sabbath, and done many things that showed 
that his teachings were different from those of Moses. 

One Sabbath day Jesus and disciples were walking 
through a field of grain. Corn such as we know about 
did not grow in the East, but there were large fields 
of wheat and barley. The disciples, being hungry, 
plucked some of the ears of grain and began to eat 
them. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto 
Jesus : "Behold, thy disciples do what is not lawful 
to do on the Sabbath." They claimed that rubbing 
the ears of wheat together was the same as reaping, 
and therefore work. Jesus said unto them : ' ' Have 
ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and 
they that were with him % Hoav he entered into the 



[8 4 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



house of God, and did eat the shew-bread, which was 
not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were 
with him, but was only for the priests ? Or have ye 
not read in the law, how the priests in the temple 




IN THE CORNFIELDS. 



profane the Sabbath and are blameless ? But I say 
unto you, that in this place is one greater than the 
temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I 
will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have 



IN THE CORNFIELDS. 



i*5 



condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is 
Lord even of the Sabbath. 

All that leads to him is Sabbath-keeping. All 
that leads away from him is Sabbath-breaking. If the 




THE WITHERED HAND. 



Jews had read the Word of God aright, they would 
have known that God would rather have men good 
and kind to each other, than to have them bring the 
choicest of their hocks or herds to be burned on the 



1 86 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

altar as an offering to him. Kind acts done on the 
Sabbath make the day more holy. It is said, "The 
Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sab- 
bath." This does not mean that we are free to do as 
we please on that day ; but we are to do all the good 
we can, and whatever is needful or helpful will be 
part of our service to Christ. If we sit and read the 
Bible from morn till night, and neglect doing needful 
duties, and acts of kindness, we are not keeping the 
Sabbath in the right way. 

On another Sabbath, Jesus went into a synagogue 
and taught there. And among the crowd was a man 
with a withered hand. The Scribes and Pharisees 
watched Jesus, to see if in any way they might accuse 
him of breaking God's laws. Jesus who knew their 
thoughts, said unto them: "What man is there 
among you, who, if he have one sheep, and it falls into 
the pit on the Sabbath day, will not lay hold of it and 
lift it out % How much then is a man better than 
a sheep. So then it is lawful to do good on Sab- 
bath days." Then he said to the man with the with- 
ered hand : "Stand up where all can see you." And 
the man arose, and stood up in full view of all those 
in the synagogue. Then saith he to the man : " Stretch 
forth thine hand." And he stretched it forth, and it 
was healed, and as perfect as the other. 

Then the Pharisees were in a great rage, and met 
together to form a plot to destroy him. But Jesus 
knowing it, withdrew from that x^lace, and many 
followed him and were healed of their diseases. 

It is said that Christ's enemies were "filled with 
madness." So great was their hatred of him that they 
acted like men who had lost their reason. And he 
who came only to do good, was roughly treated, and 
scorned by the spies from Jerusalem, who dogged his 
footsteps at every turn. 

Early one morning Jesus stood praying in a lonely 



THE LORD'S PR A YER. 187 

place among the hills, for in the East the people stand 
and do not kneel in prayer. And one of the disciples 
came to him and said : ' ' Lord teach us to pray, even 
as John also taught his disciples." And he said unto 
them : ' ' When ye pray, say : Our Father, who art in 
Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, 
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven ; give us 
this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses 
as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead 
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ; for 
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 
forever and ever. Amen." 

This seems a simple prayer, and yet how much does 
it contain ! We first give praise to our Heavenly 
Father, and ask that the Kingdom of Christ be estab- 
lished on earth, and God's commandments obeyed 
here as they are in heaven. Not my will, O Lord, but 
thine be done, should be the prayer of every Christian. 
For if we truly believe in Jesus, we will feel that what- 
ever he does is for our good, although it may not seem 
so at the time. Faith does not see beyond the veil, 
but waits with patience and submission to the will 
of God. 

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. 

When we pray thus, we ask for strength and grace 
to last us through the day. We do not ask for to- 
morrow's portion. It is as though we said, "Lord, 
help us through the trials and sorrows of the day, and 
may we find comfort in thee." 

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES. 

Means forgive us our sins as we forgive those who 
sin against us. Think of it ! 

Are we ready to forgive the sins and offences of 
those with whom we associate \ Is it not more easy 
to rind fault, and to magnify the sins and shortcom- 



1 88 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

ings of others ? Christ teaches that we must forgive 
all those who have injured us, before we ask God to 
forgive us the sins we have committed against him. 

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION. 

Satan sets traps for our feet. The world is full of 
them, and only through God's grace can we escape 
them. With our hand in his hand we are safe. If 
caught in the snare, he will deliver us. For he alone 
can put the right spirit into man, and by his power 
lift him above the things of earth. And God must 
have all the praise. 

The word Amen, signifies " So let it be" — and was 
joined in by the whole congregation at the end of 
each prayer. After giving this form of prayer to his 
disciples, Jesus said unto them, "Which of you shall 
have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and 
say to him, ' Friend, lend me three loaves. For a 
friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I 
have nothing to set before him.' And he from within 
shall answer and say, ' Trouble me not. The door is 
now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can- 
not rise and give thee.' 

"I say unto you, though he will not rise and give 
him, because he is his friend, yet because of his im- 
portunity — his persistent knocking — he will arise and 
give him as much bread as he needs. And I say unto 
you, ask and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For 
every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh 
findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If 
a son shall ask bread of anyone of you who is a father, 
will he give him a stone \ or if he ask for a fish will 
he give him a serpent % If ye then, being evil, know 
how to give good gifts unto your children, how much 
more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 
to them that ask him? ' ' 



THE LORD'S PR A YER. 189 

We are to ask God for what we need, as a child asks 
its earthly father for the food it craves. If once ask- 
ing does not bring an ansAver, we mnst ask again. 
We knock once at the door of a friend's house. The 
door does not open. We knock again. The door is 
still shut. We grow more anxious, and with throb- 
bing heart and eager lingers knock once more. Then, 
just as we have about given up hope, the door opens, 
and the joy is greater because of the delay. 

God answers every prayer. If you do not get the 
thing you ask for, it is because it is not best for you 
to have it. God knows our needs better than we know 
them ourselves. "In some way or other the Lord will 
provide." 

Afterwards there was brought unto Jesus a demo- 
niac, who was blind and dumb, and he healed him so 
that he spoke, and his sight came back to him. And 
all the people were amazed, and some cried out : "Is 
not this the son of David \ " But when the Pharisees 
heard it they said: "This man casts out devils 
through Beelzebub the prince of devils." 

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said unto them : 
" Every kingdom which acts against itself will destroy 
itself ; and every city or house divided against itself 
shall not stand. If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided 
against himself. How then shall his kingdom stand % 
If I, by Beelzebub, cast out devils, by whom do your 
sons cast them out? therefore they shall be your 
judges." 

The Pharisees claimed that Jesus was in league 
with Satan, but Jesus proved that their reasoning did 
not hold good. Satan never rebukes sin, and how 
could Jesus make use of him to drive out sin % He is 
sin himself. 

The kingdom of Christ cannot be built up by wicked 
men. Jesus said : "If I cast out devils by the Spirit 
of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 



190 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

How can one enter a into strong man's house, and spoil 
his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and 
then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me 
it against me ; and he that gathereth not with me 
scattereth abroad." 

Jesus proved that his power was divine. If he was 
not stronger than Satan he could not gain the victory 
over him. Satan's house is man's heart. His goods 
are the evil thoughts and deeds with which we till our 
lives until Satan is driven out, and a new Master 
takes possession. 

"Therefore, I say unto ye," saith our Lord to his 
enemies, " every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven; 
but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be for- 
given. And whosoever speaketh a word against the 
Son of Man it shall be forgiven him ; but whosoever 
speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be for- 
given him, neither in this world, nor in the world to 
come. Either make the tree good and the fruit good ; 
or else make the tree evil and its fruit evil. For by 
the fruit the tree is known." " Ye brood of vipers ! 
how can ye, being evil, speak good things % for out of 
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The 
good man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth 
forth good things ; and the evil man out of the evil 
treasure bringeth forth evil things. And I say unto 
you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they 
shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment. 
For by thy words thou shalt be justified ; and by thy 
words thou shalt be condemned." With our lips Ave 
either confess or deny Christ, and by our words and 
deeds show whether we are with Him, or against 
Him. 

Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees answered 
him, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from 
thee." They were not satisfied with the miracles 
they had seen, for they might have been done by 



THE PHARISEES ASK FOR A SIGN. 191 

magic. But a sign out of heaven would prove to 
them that he had dealings with the Most High. Jesus 
said that no sign should be given them but that of 
the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and 
three nights in the belly of the whale, so should the 
Son of Man be three days and three nights in the 
heart of the earth. "The men of Mneveh," he said, 
"shall stand up in the judgment with this genera- 
tion, and shall condemn it; because they repented at 
the preaching of Jonah, and behold one greater than 
Jonah is here. The Queen of the South shall stand 
up in the judgment with this generation, and shall 
condemn it ; for she came from the ends of the earth 
to hear the wisdom of Solomon ; and, behold, one far 
greater than Solomon is here." Yet the Jews were 
not drawn toward him, nor did they give heed to his 
words. 

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of the man, 
he passeth through dry places, seeking rest, and find- 
eth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house 
from whence I came out ; and when he is come he 
findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth 
he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more 
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell 
there, and the last state of that man is worse than the 
first. Thus shall it be also with this wicked genera- 
tion." Jesus spoke in a sort of parable to the Jews. 
The meaning of it was that when the evil spirits were 
driven out of a man, the empty spaces must be filled 
with pure thoughts, else wicked ones would troop in, 
and the man would be a greater sinner than he was 
before. 

While Jesus was yet speaking, behold, his mother 
and brethren stood without in the crowd, seeking to 
speak to him. They had become anxious about him, 
knowing the enmity of the Scribes and Pharisees, 
and that they were plotting to take away his life. 



192 7W.fi: LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Some one called the attention of Jesus to them, say- 
ing, " Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand 
without, seeking to speak to thee." Jesus said unto 
him that told him, "Who is my mother? and who 
are my brethren % ' ' and he stretched forth his hand to- 
wards his disciples, and said, " Behold my mother and 
my brethren ! For whosoever shall do the will of my 
Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, 
and mother." Jesus loves us with a human as well 
as a divine love. His closest relations are with his 
disciples, those who obey God ; and he teaches us 
that we must not be drawn away from doing God's 
work because of the anxiety of near and dear friends. 

While Jesus had been speaking, a certain Pharisee 
came and asked him to dine with him. And Jesus 
went into the man's house and at once sat down to 
the midday meal. When the Pharisee saw this he 
marveled that Jesus had not first washed his hands 
before dinner. The Lord said unto him, "Now do ye 
Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and platter ; 
but your heart is full of robbery and wickedness. Ye 
fools, did not he that made the outside make the 
inside also ? Rather give for alms such things as ye 
have within ; and behold all things are clean to you." 
Jesus meant that the most important thing was to 
have a clean heart. These men were greedy and 
grasping, they robbed the poor, and did all sorts of 
wickedness. These things soiled a man, and made 
him filthy in the sight of God, though his skin might 
be as white as soaj) and water could make it. 

Jesus did not spare them, for the time had come for 
plain speaking, and he said : " Woe unto you, Phar- 
isees, for ye tithe the mint, and the rue, and all man- 
ner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of 
God : but these ye ought to have done, and not have 
left the other undone." The Israelites were bidden 
to pay a tithe, or tenth part of the fruits of the field 



JESUS DINES WITH PHARISEES. 193 

and of the trees, as an offering to the Lord. The 
Scribes and Pharisees paid these tithes, which cost 
them little and were of small valne, bnt gave not their 
hearts to Him, which were the only offerings he 
desired. 

" Woe nnto you, Pharisees," said he, "for ye love 
the chief seats in the synagogue, and the salutations 
in the market-places. Woe unto you, hypocrites, for 
ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men 
that walk over them know not they are there." 

They would pretend to be good, and so do a great 
deal of harm to those who believed in them and 
trusted them. 

At this point, one of the lawyers who were present 
said to Jesus, "Master, in saying thus thou dost 
reproach us also." Jesus answered : " Woe unto you 
lawyers also, for ye load men with burdens with one 
of your fingers ! Woe unto you, for ye build the 
tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them! 
So then ye bear witness that ye approve of the deeds 
of your fathers. Therefore also said the wisdom of 
God, ' I will send unto them prophets and apostles, 
and some of them they shall kill and persecute, 
that the blood of all the prophets shed from -the 
foundation of the world may be required of this 
generation ; from the blood of Abel to the blood of 
Zachariah who was slain between the altar and the 
temple.' 

"Woe unto you, lawyers, for ye have taken aAvay 
the key of knowledge. Ye entered not in yourselves, 
and them that were entering ye hindered." If the 
lawyers had taught the law correctly they would 
have led the people to Christ. But this they had 
not done. 

Jesus was alone among those who hated him. He 
had been invited to partake of the midday meal, 
not out of any kindness of heart, but that they 



i 9 4 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

might heap more abuse upon him. They were 
false friends, and Jesus knew it, as his words 
plainly showed. They might deceive others, but 
him they could not deceive. The feast was broken 
up, and all the guests crowded around Jesus, and 
plied him with questions, watching him closely that 
they might catch him off his guard, and find some- 
thing of which to accuse him. 

As Jesus passed out of the house he found a 
great crowd assembled, so great that they trod upon 
one another. And, speaking first to his disciples, 
he said : ' ' Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, 
which is hypocrisy ! For there is nothing covered 
that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not 
be known. Wherefore, whatsoever ye have said in 
the darkness shall be heard in the light ; and that 
which ye have whispered iu inner places shall be 
proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto 
you, my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the 
body, and after that have no more that they can do. 
But fear him who after he hath killed the body hath 
power to cast the soul into the fires of hell." He 
told them that God loved them, and that the Son of 
Man would confess before God those who confessed 
him before men. 

One among the crowd, who had been thinking 
more of earthly things than of heavenly, said unto 
Jesus, "Master, speak to my brother that he divide 
his inheritance with me." Jesus said unto him, 
" Who made me a judge or a divider over you?" 
And speaking to all he said, " Take heed, and keep 
yourselves from all covetousness." Be not greedy of 
gain, " For a man's wealth in this life consists not in 
the abundance of his possessions." 

And he spoke a parable to them, saying: "The 
ground of a rich man brought forth plentifully. And 
he reasoned within himself, saying, "What shall I 



THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL. 195 

do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits ?" 
And lie said, ' ' This will I do : I will pull down my 
barns and build larger ones, and there will I bestow 
all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my 
soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many 
years ; take thine ease ; eat, drink, and be merry. ' ' 
But God said unto him, "Thou fool, this night thy 
soul shall be required of thee; and then who will 
own the things which thou hast last provided % So 
is it with him that layeth up treasure for himself, 
and is not rich toward God." 

Jesus told his disciples not to vex themselves with 
worldly cares, nor to be anxious for to-morrow. He 
who fed the ravens, and made the flowers of the 
field more gorgeous than the robes of King Solomon, 
would surely provide for the wants of those whose 
lives were of more value. Why could they not trust 
in him % 

It was useless to heap up riches in this world, for 
we had to die and leave them, and they would cause 
much strife among our heirs. But we should seek 
for heavenly riches, and have more care for the soul 
than for the body. " Sell that ye have," said Jesus, 
" and give alms; make yourselves purses that never 
grow old, and lay up treasures in heaven that never 
fail, where no thief comes near to rob nor moths to 
destroy. For where your treasure is, there will your 
heart be also." 

How true that is ! If we love spiritual things, our 
thoughts will dwell on the higher life ; but if we 
love the world and its pleasures, our thoughts will 
dwell on these lower things, and drag us down. 

We are to think less of self, and to use our wealth 
to give to those who are poor and needy. The heav- 
enly treasures never grow old, but the longer we 
have them the brighter they grow. 

The Orientals — as the people of the East are called 



196 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

— wore long garments that, unless belted or girded 
around the waist, they could not walk in or serve at 
table. Therefore he said to them: " Let your loins 
be girded about, and your lamps burning. And be 
ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, 
when he will return from the marriage feast ; that 
when he cometh and knocketh, they may straight- 
way open unto him. Blessed are those servants 
whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watch- 
ing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall gird him- 
self, and make them sit down to meat, and will come 
forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the 
second or third watch, and find them so, blessed are 
they. But know this, that if the master of the house 
had known what hour the thief was coming, he would 
have watched, and not have left his house to be 
broken into. Be ye also ready, for in such an hour 
as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." 

The returning Master is Jesus, and we are always 
to be ready for his coming. Good and faithful serv- 
ants, having nothing to hide, do not fear to have 
their master come in at any time. We do not know 
when we are to die. Many have been struck down 
when in the full flush of health. It matters not when 
we go, if we are only ready to go. 

Peter said unto him, "Lord, speakest thou this 
parable unto us, or even to all ? " The Lord said : 
" Who, then, is the faithful and wise steward, whom 
his lord shall set to rule over his household, to give 
them their meat in due season? Blessed is that 
servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so 
doing. Of a truth I say unto you that I will set him 
to rule over all that he hath. But if that servant say 
in his heart, " My lord delayeth his coming;" and 
shall begin to beat the menservants and maidserv- 
ants, and to eat, and drink, and be drunken ; the 
lord of that servant shall come in a day when he 



BE YE ALSO READY. 197 

expecteth him not, and in an hour he knoweth not, 
and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion 
with the unfaithful." 

The servant who knew his lord's will, and made 
not ready, nor did according to his wishes, shall be 
beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, 
and did things worthy of punishment, shall be 
beaten with few stripes. For to whom much is given 
much shall be required. And to whom men have 
committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

Jesus answered Peter' s question by showing how 
faithfulness was rewarded and unfaithfulness pun- 
ished. The Lord will judge his people as he finds 
them. The more confidence men have in us, the more 
responsibility we have, the greater reason is there 
for our being faithful. Those who know the right 
and do the wrong are more sinful than those who 
have been brought up in ignorance. 

"I am come," said Jesus, "to cast fire upon the 
earth, and what will I, if it be already kindled ! 
But I have a baptism to be baptized with ; and how 
am I straitened till it be accomplished ! ' ' 

He refers here to his own death, and the depth of 
his sufferings. There was a weight upon him, a 
human shrinking from the awful doom. 

" Suppose you," he says, " that I am come to bring 
peace on the earth % I tell you, nay ; but rather a 
sword ; ' ' and he speaks of the strife that will arise 
because of him. Then he said to the multitudes 
also: " When ye see a south wind blowing, ye say 
there will be a scorching heat ; and it cometh to 
pass. Ye hypocrites ! ye know how to judge the 
signs on the face of the earth and the sky, but how 
is it that ye know not how to tell the signs of this 
time ? Why even of yourselves judge ye not what 
is right ? For as thou art going with thine adver- 
sary to the magistrate, on the way give diligence to 



198 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

be released from him, lest lie drag thee to the judge, 
and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, to be 
cast into prison. I say unto thee thou shalt by no 
means come out till thou hast paid the very last 
mite." 

The adversary — or foe with whom we fight — is the 
holy law of God. The magistrate is God himself. 
On the way, ere it is too late, we must make our 
peace with God, and by repentance and faith secure 
forgiveness of our sins. For those who come before 
the Judge on the Last Day, without having been 
released from Satan's claim, will be punished for- 
ever. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

JESUS LEAVES CAPEENAUM — THE SYKO-PHCENICTAN 
WOMAN — THE DEAF-AND-DUMB MAN — FOUR 
THOUSAND FED — (LESAKEA PHILIPPI — PETEE'S 
CONFESSION. 

By this time the Scribes and Pharisees had be- 
gun to show so much enmity to Jesus that it was not 
safe for either him or the disciples to remain among 
them. So Jesus withdrew from Capernaum, and 
went out to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. This 
country was inhabited by Gentiles, or heathen peo- 
ple, and Jesus went into a house and remained there, 
that it might not be known that he was in the place. 
But as a lamp shines out into the darkness and is 
seen afar, so this Light that was to light the world 
could not be hid. Soon it was noised about that he 
who had done so many signs and wonders was in 
their midst, and a poor Syro-Phcenician woman 
heard of it. She had a little daughter who was very 



THE SYRO-PHCENICIAN WOMAN. 



199 



sick and in great pain, and the mother's heart was 
filled with agony and longings for her relief. 
She had done all she could, but the child only 




JESUS AND THE SYRO-PHCENICIAN WOMAN. 

grew worse, and when she heard of the wonderful 
cures that Jesus had performed, she made up her 
mind to go to him for help. She was a Greek and 
a heathen, and as she came to the house where Jesus 



2oo THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

was, she cried out, "0 Lord, thou Son of David, 
have mercy upon me ! My daughter is grievously 
vexed with a demon." Jesus spoke not, and the 
disciples, knowing his desire to remain hidden, said 
to him, " Send her away, for she crieth after us." 

Then Jesus said to the woman, ' ' I was sent only to 
the lost sheep of the House of Israel." But she 
threw herself at his feet and cried, "Lord, help 
me!" And he said to her, " It is not meet to take 
the children's bread, and throw it to the dogs." She 
answered, "Even so, Lord; yet the dogs eat the 
crumbs that fall from the master's table." Then 
Jesus said unto her, ' ' O woman, great is thy faith ! 
Be it done unto thee even as thou wilt." And her 
daughter was healed from that hour. 

This heathen woman understood the parable at 
once. Having faith, she saw more clearly than the 
Jews, who rejected Christ. They, the Jews, called 
the heathen "dogs," and did not treat them with 
common civility, and would not think of sitting at 
the same table with them. But in every Jewish 
household there were a number of small dogs, called 
house dogs, that kept under the table and ate up the 
crumbs that fell down, or the bits that were thrown 
them. 

The woman had faith to believe that there was 
enough of God's grace for those at the table and 
under the table. The crumbs would satisfy her. She 
did not deserve much, for she felt that she was a 
guilty sinner. And when she went to her own house, 
she found the child lying in bed, weak, but quiet, 
for the demon had left her. 

Jesus, leaving the coast, came through Sidon and 
Decapolis, a region of ten cities on the eastern shore 
of the Sea of Galilee. And they brought unto him 
one who was deaf, and had an impediment in his 
speech, and begged Jesus to lay his hand upon him. 



THE DEAF-AND-DUMB MAN. 201 

Jesus took him away from the crowd, and put his 
fingers into the deaf ears, and he spat, and touched 
the tongue that was dumb. And looking up to 
heaven, he sighed, and said unto him, " EphpTieta" 
which is, "Be thou opened." And his ears were 
unstopped, and his tongue loosed, so that he heard 
and spoke plainly. And Jesus charged the people 
to tell no one, but the more he charged them, a great 
deal more did they publish it, and were astonished 
beyond measure, saying, "He hath done all things 
well. He maketh even the deaf to hear and the 
dumb to speak." 

Crowds still continued to follow Jesus, many being 
drawn to him by curiosity, because of his wonderful 
miracles. Some were held by the power of his 
words, and so great was their charm that they list- 
ened day after day, and forgot even the need of food. 
Jesus, touched by their faith, called his disciples 
unto him, and said : "I have pity on the multitude, 
because they have been with me now for three days, 
and have had nothing to eat. And if I send them 
away fasting to their own homes they will faint by 
the way, for many have come from a long distance." 

The disciples said, "Where can we find bread 
enough for them in such a desert place ? " He asked 
them how many loaves they had, and they answered, 
"Seven, and a few little fishes." Then he com- 
manded the multitude to sit down on the ground, 
and he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and 
having given thanks he brake them, and gave to the 
disciples, and they distributed them among the peo- 
ple. And they did all eat, and were filled. And 
there was left seven baskets, full of broken pieces. 
And there were fed at this time about four thousand 
men, women, and children. 

After this, Jesus sent away the multitude, and im- 
mediately entered into a boat with his disciples, and 



2o2 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

went into the borders of Magdala and the regions of 
Dalmanutha. It is supposed that the boat landed 
at some point between these two places, which are 
on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, and in 
a lonely spot, for Jesus sought rest and retirement. 

Hardly had he set foot on shore, however, when 
the Pharisees and Sadducees, the bitterest enemies 
of Jesus, came forth to meet him, intent to do all 
they could to hinder his preaching. They were 
men of great influence among the people, the Phar- 
isees, because of their religious zeal, and the Sad- 
ducees, because of their wealth and rank. They 
looked upon Jesus as a false prophet not worth 
listening to. If he was indeed the Christ he claimed 
to be, let him give them a sign, and let that sign 
be from heaven. 

Jesus sighed, and, in deep sorrow of heart, said, 
' ' Why doth this generation seek for a sign ? Verily 
I say unto you, there shall no sign be given to 
them." And he turned his back upon them, and 
entering the boat, crossed over to the other side of 
the lake. 

Now the disciples had forgotten to buy bread, 
and had with them in the boat but one loaf. Jesus 
knowing it charged them to beware of the leaven 
of the Pharisees and Sadducees. "What does he 
mean ? " they said. " Is it because we have brought 
no bread with us?" Jesus, grieved at their lack 
of understanding, said unto them, "Why reason 
ye because ye have no bread \ Are your eyes not 
yet opened after seeing all these miracles? Have 
ye your heart yet hardened ? Having eyes ye see 
not, and having ears hear not, and do ye not re- 
member when I brake the five loaves for the five 
thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces 
took ye up?" They said unto him, "Twelve." 
"And when the seven loaves were given to the 



C^ESAREA PHILIPPI. 203 

four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces 
took ye up?" They said, "Seven." And he said 
unto them, ' ' How is it that ye do not yet under- 
stand?" 

So great was their love and reverence for Jesus 
that they listened awestruck to his words, and 
dared not ask him the questions that disturbed 
their hearts. But slowly the truth dawned upon 
the disciples that Jesus meant they were to beware 
of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

When the boat landed at Bethsaida, Julias, a blind 
man, was brought to Jesus to be healed. And he 
took hold of the blind man by the hand and brought 
him out of the village. And, spitting on his eyes, 
he laid his hands upon him, and asked him if he saw 
anything. The blind man looked up and said, "I 
see men as trees walking." His friends or some of 
the disciples were near, and he saw them, but not 
clearly. 

Then Jesus put his hands again upon his eyes, 
and made him look up ; and he saw all things 
plainly. And Jesus sent him to his own home, say- 
ing, "Do not even enter the village." 

Leaving Bethsaida, Julias, Jesus, and his disci- 
ples went on to Caesarea Philippi. This city stood at 
the foot of Mount Hermon, and commanded a line 
view of the surrounding country. The fields were 
rich with grain, and on all sides were olive groves, 
vines, mulberry trees, and a wealth of flowers in 
full bloom. At one time the Greeks lived here, and 
worshiped Pan, the god of woods and fields, and 
they gave to the place the name of Paneas. At 
the time of our Lord's visit it was in the hands of 
Herod Philip, who had been made governor of that 
region by the Emperor Augustus. 

Driven out of Judea and Galilee by the hatred of 
the Jews, Jesus came in sadness of spirit to this part of 



204 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the Gentile world. There were no crowds following 
him now. He was alone, save for the disciples who 
were never very far oil . As he came from the retired 
spot where he had been praying, he asked his disci- 
ples, ' ' Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, 
am ?" And they said, " Some say John the Baptist, 
some Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the 
prophets." And he said nnto them, "But whom 
say ye that I am?" Peter said, "Thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said, 
' ' Blessed art thou Simon, son of Jonas, for flesh and 
blood hath revealed it not unto thee, but my Father 
who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee that 
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my 
church ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of 
heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth 
shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt 
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." And he 
charged his disciples to tell no man that he was Jesus 
the Christ. 

Never had Jesus spoken to his disciples like this. 
He had confessed his power in words they could not 
mistake. Up to this time Peter had been called 
Simon. Petros means stone or rock, and because 
Peter had faith to believe and boldness to confess 
Christ, on him or, rather, in that way should the 
Church of Christ be built up. He was to act as the 
steward of God, and whosoever he received into the 
Church on earth, God would receive into the king- 
dom of heaven. God made choice of him that by 
his mouth the Gentiles should first hear the words 
of the Gospel, and at his bidding he baptized in the 
name of the Lord. * 

From that time forth Jesus began to speak more 



* Acts xv., 7; Acts x., 48. 



PETER'S CONFESSION. 205 

familiarly with his disciples, and to show them that 
he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things 
from the elders and chief priests and Scribes, and be 
killed, and on the third day be raised up. Peter 
took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying: 
"Be it far from thee, Lord ! This thing shall never 
be done unto thee!" But he turned, and said to 
Peter: "Get thee behind me, Satan! Thou art a 
stumbling-block unto me; for thou mindest not the 
things of Gfod, but only the things of men." 

Peter, out of human sympathy, wished to save 
Jesus from suffering and death, now realizing that 
God's will must be done. He had tempted him as 
the devil tempted him in the early part of his minis- 
try, and tried to turn him from the path marked out 
for him. But Jesus rebuked him, as he rebukes all 
who shrink from the trials of a Christian life. 

Then said Jesus to his disciples : "If any one 
would come after me let him deny himself, and take 
up his cross and follow me. For whosoever would 
save his life shall lose it ; and whosoever would lose 
his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a 
man be profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose 
his own soul % or what shall a man give in exchange 
for his soul % ' ' 

The gain of the world — the love of wealth and 
fashion, and the love of self will lead to a greater 
loss — the loss of the higher life, and the joys that 
enrich the soul. 

"For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of 
his Father with his angels, and then shall he render 
unto every man according to his deeds. Verily I 
say unto you there be some standing here who shall 
not taste of death till they see the Son of Man 
coming in his kingdom." 

Thus did Jesus warn them against selfish pleasures, 
and point out the highest duty of man. He spoke 



206 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 

also of his final coming after his resurrection of a 
clay not being very far off and to quiet their fears 
said that some of those standing there should not 
taste death until the Son of Man had come into his 
kingdom. The power of Christ would be felt on 
earth, and his church be built in the hearts of men. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE TRANSFIGURATION — HEALING THE LUNATIC BOY 
— WHICH SHALL BE GREATEST ? — THE TRIBUTE- 
MONEY — THE NINETY AND NINE — JESUS RE- 
JECTED BY THE SAMARITANS — " I GO NOT UP 



Six days have passed, and at the close of the Sab- 
bath Jesus and three of his disciples — Peter, and 
James, and John — climb the path that leads to the 
heights of Hermon. While Jesus was praying a 
great change came over him. His face shone as the 
sun, and his garments were as white as snow, and of 
dazzling brightness. At the same time Moses and 
Elijah appeared talking with him, and they spoke of 
his death which was about to take place in Jer- 
usalem. 

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy 
with sleep, yet, having remained awake, they saw 
his glory and the two men that stood with him. 
And Peter said: "Lord, it is good for us to be 
here. Let us make here three tabernacles — one for 
thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 

While he was yet speaking behold a bright cloud 
came over the top of Mount Hermon, and hid the 
shining ones from the gaze of the disciples. And 
a voice out of the cloud said, "This is my beloved 



THE TRANSFIGURATION. 207 

Son, in whom I am well pleased ; hear ye him." 
When the disciples heard it they were awestruck, 
and fell on their faces in great terror. The very 
light and glory of heaven had fallen upon them, 
and they had heard the voice of God ! The silence 
which followed was like that of death. 

Presently, they felt a gentle touch, and the voice 
of Jesus said to them, "Arise, and be not afraid !■" 
And, lifting up their eyes, they saw no one save 
Jesus only. In the early dawn of the next morn- 
ing Jesus and his disciples came down the mountain 
path that led to the valley, where they had left 
their companions. And Jesus commanded them not 
to tell what they had seen until after he was risen 
from the dead. And they spoke of it to no one. 
Among themselves, however, they spoke often of 
the vision, and of the strangeness of Elijah's ap- 
pearing. They had been taught in the Old Testa- 
ment to look for his coming, but supposed he would 
make a longer stay. What did it mean % 

They put the question to Jesus, and asked why the 
Scribes taught that Elijah must first come. Jesus 
said, "Truly, Elijah cometh first to prepare men to 
receive the Gospel." Elijah had come already, and 
they knew him not, but did with him as they 
pleased. In like manner would the Son of Man 
suffer at their hands. Then the disciples under- 
stood, for the first time, that Elijah had come again 
on the earth in the person of John the Baptist. He 
had come to lead Israel to Christ, but they would 
not heed his cry, " Repent, and be saved ! " 

While Jesus, and Peter, and James, and John 
were descending the mountain, a great multitude 
had collected on the plain below. The disciples had 
failed to cure a lunatic boy, and the Scribes were 
vexing them with all sorts of questions, and were in 
a great rage. As soon as the multitudes saw Jesus 



2o8 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

they were greatly amazed, and running to him sa- 
luted him. And he asked the Scribes, " Why do ye 
dispute with them % " But before they could answer 
a man rushed out from the crowd, and throwing 
himself at the feet of Jesus, cried out, "Master, I 
have brought unto thee my son who has a dumb 
spirit. And wheresoever it seizeth him it teareth 
him, and he foams at the mouth, and grindeth his 
teeth, and withereth away." 

Jesus said to the multitude : " O faithless genera- 
tion ! how long shall I be with you ? How long shall 
I bear with you % ' ' Then turning to the father, he 
said, "Bring him to me." And they brought the 
lunatic boy; and, when he saw Jesus, the spirit 
within him tore him grievously, and he fell to the 
ground, and writhed about, foaming at the mouth. 

Jesus asked the father, "How long has he had this 
sickness \ ' ' The father answered : ' ' From child- 
hood. And ofttimes it has thrown him into the lire 
and into the waters to destroy him. But if thou 
canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help 
us." 

" If tliou canst believe, all things are possible to 
him that believeth." Straightway the father of the 
child cried out, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine 
unbelief ! ' ' His faith was weak, but it led to prayer. 
Jesus, seeing that the multitude were drawing near, 
rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, "Thou deaf and 
dumb spirit, I command thee come out of him, and 
enter no more into him." 

And the spirit cried out, and threw the boy into 
spasms, and then came out of him, leaving him so 
weak and exhausted that many who saw him said, 
"He is dead." 

But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him 
up ; and he stood on his feet completely cured. 

When Jesus came into the house, the disciples 



WHICH SHALL BE THE GREATEST? 209 

asked him privately, why they could not cast out 
devils as he did, and why they had failed in curing 
the lunatic boy. Jesus frankly told them it was 
because of their unbelief. "This kind," he said, 
" can come out by nothing but prayer." With more 
faith they could do more and blessed work for 
Christ. 

Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ 
who strengthened me." All things are ours, if 
Christ is ours. Jesus left Csesarea Philippi, and 
passed through Galilee, not by the main roads, but 
along the by-paths, that his presence might not be 
known. He wished to talk with his disciples, and to 
prepare their minds for his death, which was so soon 
to take place. They had wondered at the miracles 
he had done, and he said, "Let these sayings sink 
down into your ears, for the Son of Man shall be 
delivered up into the hands of men." But they 
understood not what he meant, for it was hid from 
them, and they feared to ask him about it. 

And they came to Capernaum ; and when Jesus 
entered the house he asked the disciples what they 
had disputed about on the way. And they were 
ashamed to tell him, for they had disputed with 
one another as to which should be the greatest in 
the kingdom Jesus was about to set up. The rest 
of the disciples were jealous of Peter, and James, 
and John, supposing that they would hold high 
rank in the future kingdom. 

Jesus, sitting down, called the twelve* around 
him, and said, "If any one would be first in the 
kingdom he shall be last of all." And he took a 
child, and set him in the midst of them ; and 
taking him in his arms he said unto them, "Who- 
soever shall receive a little child in my name re- 
ceiveth me ; and whoso receiveth me, receiveth not 
me but him that sent me," 



210 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

He is nearest to Christ who has the least thought 
of self ; we must stoop low to save souls, and think 
that no work is mean that is done in his name. 

John answered him, saying, "Master, we saw one 
casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth 
not us ; and we forbade him because he followeth 
not us." But Jesus said: " Forbid him not, for 
there is no one that shall do a mighty work in my 
name and be able to speak evil of me. For he that 
is not against us is for us." 

If those who are not followers of Jesus strive to do 
good work for him they must not be discouraged. 
Their faith will increase, and they may thus be 
brought into the fold. 

Clasping the child more closely in his arms, Jesus 
said: "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water 
to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, 
verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his 
reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these 
little ones that believe in me, it were better for him 
that a mill-stone were hung about his neck, and he 
were cast into the sea." 

Jesus takes care of his own, and the least kindness 
shown to them is the same as if shown to him. He 
warns us against the guilt of leading little children 
away from Christ, and of teaching them to do wrong. 
The whole blame will rest upon us, and we shall be 
terribly punished. 

Jesus said : ' ' See that ye despise not one of these 
little ones ; for I say unto you, their angels in heaven 
do always behold the face of my father who is 
in heaven. For the Son of Man is come to save that 
which was lost." He despiseth no one. "How think 
ye, if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them 
be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine 
and go into the mountains and seek that which has 
gone astray ? And if so be that he find it, truly I 




JESUS BLESSES THE CHILDREN. 



THE NINETY AND NINE. 213 

say unto yon lie rejoiceth over it more than over the 
ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it 
is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that 
one of these little ones should perish. " Those who do 
not know how to care for the lambs are not fit to take 
care of the sheep. Jesus loves the little ones, and his 
arms are always open to receive them. He is like a 
tender shepherd, who is unwilling that any of his 
hock should be lost. He does not leave them to be 
eaten up by wolves, but goes out after them, and 
brings them home safely in his arms. Little ones 
are to feel that they have a friend in Jesus. 

Jesus said unto them, ' ' If thy hand cause thee to 
offend, cut it off; for it is better to enter life 
maimed than having thy two hands to enter into the 
fire that is never quenched. And if thy foot cause 
thee to offend, cut it off ; for it is better that thou 
enter halt into life than having thy two feet to be 
cast into hell. And if thine eye cause thee to offend, 
pluck it out ; for it is better that thou enter the king- 
dom of God with one eye than having thy two eyes 
to be cast into hell. For every one shall be salted 
with fire." 

' ' Salt is good, but if the salt have lost its saltness 
wherewith will ye season it ? Have salt in your- 
selves, and be at peace with one another." 

Jesus teaches several lessons by these figures of 
speech. If our right hand leads us into sin we must 
deny ourselves, and be as if the hand were cut off. 
How much better for him that stole, or murdered, if 
he had had no hands at all ! Our feet lead us often into 
sin, but we must turn away and walk with Jesus if 
we would escape the fire that eats into the soul. How 
often the eye causes us to sin. We see that our 
neighbors are better off than we are, we covet their 
wealth, their fine homes and worldly pleasures, and 
sell our souls in order to obtain these things that 



214 THE LIFE OF /ESt/S CHRIST. 

perish with the using. Better for many that they 
had been blind than, having two eyes, to fall into 
the mire of sin. Better for us to be blind — to have 
our eyes put out — if only in that way can we be 
brought to know Christ, and to be followers of Jesus. 
"Every one shall be salted with fire," said Jesus. 
Salt is a great purifier and preserver. Without it 
much of our food would be tasteless. Fire also puri- 
fies, and takes the dross from the pure gold and silver. 
So the trials and sacrifices we meet with in the Chris- 
tian life are to sweeten and refine us, to make us 
more pure and holy. If the taste is lost from salt 
there is no way of putting it back again ; but if we 
have salt in ourselves, if we season the message so 
that the Gfospel is made attractive, many will be 
drawn to us, and souls will be saved. If we feel the 
salt losing its power, we can, by prayer, obtain a 
fresh supply, and only in this way can we gain 
strength for the work we have to do for Jesus. 

While they were at Capernaum the time came for 
the collection of the temple tax. For in addition to 
the tithes — the tenth part of the fields, the fiocks, and 
the herds — every male Jew over twenty years of age 
had, at a certain time of the year to pay in a half 
shekel for the support of the temple. A shekel is 
worth from fifty to seventy cents, and this money 
was used to purchase the sacrifices and to pay for the 
incense, the shew-bread, and all the other expenses 
of the temple services. As many of the worshipers 
came from a long distance they could not take with 
them the young cows, or the sheep that were to be 
laid on the altar, but had to buy them of the dealers 
whose shops were near the temple. 

They that received the tribute-money came to Peter 
and said, ' ' Doth not your master pay the half she- 
kel?" Peter saith, "Yes," and went into the house 
to get it. But Jesus prevented him, saying : " What 



THE TRIBUTE-MONEY. 



215 



tliinkest thou, Simon ? Of whom do the kings of the 
earth receive toll — from their own sons or from 



strangers \ 



And when Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said 
unto him: "Surely, then, the sons are free. But 




PETER AND THE TRIBUTE-MONEY. 

lest we should cause others to oifend, go thou to the 
sea, and cast a hook, and take up the first fish that 
cometh up. And when thou hast opened its mouth 
thou shalt find a piece of money — a shekel — that 
take, and give unto them for thee and me." 



21 6 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

The money was usually paid in the month of March, 
but priests and eminent rabbis were free from the 
tax ; and, as Jesus had been absent from the city, the 
debt had been allowed to stand. 

But there was no reason why Jesus should pay this 
tax when he himself was the temple of the living 
God. Had Peter thought a moment he would not 
have spoken so rashly, but as he had confessed the 
debt Jesus arranged that he should pay it by his 
own efforts. Thus the law was kept, and no one's 
feelings were hurt. 

It was now the autumn of the year, and the Feast 
of Tabernacles was at hand. It began on the fif- 
teenth of October, and lasted for eight days, and was 
a time of great rejoicing. 

Already were pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem 
to put up booths in which they could live during the 
festive week. These booths were made of the boughs 
of olive, palm, and other trees, and were a great pro- 
tection from the rays of the midday sun, as well as a 
shelter at night. 

For some months Jesus had walked in Galilee, for 
he would not walk in Judea because the Jews there 
— the leaders of the people — sought to kill him. But 
now all Galilee was astir, for the Feast of the Taber- 
nacles was one of the great feasts of the year. 

This harvest feast reminded Jesus of the ingather- 
ing of souls. And choosing seventy disciples, he 
sent them out, two and two, into every city and 
place to prepare the people for his coming. And 
he said to them : ' ' The harvest is plenteous, but 
the laborers are few. Pray ye, therefore, the Lord 
of the harvest that he would send forth laborers 
into his harvest. Go your ways. Behold I send 
you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry 
no purse, no wallet, and no sandals, and salute no 
man by the way." It was the custom of the Jews to 




THE SENDING OUT OF THE SEVENTY, 



/ESUS REJECTED BY THE SAMARITANS. 219 

speak to no one when on the way to prayer. "And 
into whatsoever house ye shall enter first say, 
' Peace be to this house.' And if a son of peace be 
there, your peace shall rest upon it, but if not it shall 
turn to you again." 

They were to seek out those worthy to receive the 
message they brought, and in that house were to 
remain, sharing with them the food they gave, for 
the laborer is worthy of his hire. They were not to 
go from house to house in search of ease, or better 
food, but to eat such food as was set before them. 

They were to heal the sick in these places, and to 
say to them : The kingdom of God is come nigh 
unto you. In case the people did not receive them 
into their houses they were to go through the streets 
and warn them that the kingdom of God is near. 

And he said that the same woes would come upon 
these cities and towns where the people refused to 
receive the seventy, as would come upon those that 
rejected him. And great was the ruin of those cities 
and towns ! 

Jesus said to them as he says to all who go out to 
preach and teach in his name, "He that heareth you 
heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me, 
and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent 
me." 

As the route from Capernaum to Jerusalem lay 
through Samaria, Jesus sent messengers on ahead to 
prepare food and shelter for him and the large party 
with him. But in the first village the messengers 
entered the people refused to receive him, giving as 
an excuse that, as his mission was to the Jews, the 
Jews must befriend him. 

When his disciples, James and John, saw this they 
were very angry, and said, "Lord, wilt thou that we 
command fire to come down from heaven, and burn 
them up, even as Elijah did ?" But Jesus said, "The 



220 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 



Son of Man is not come to destroy men' s lives, but to 
save them." And they passed on to another village. 
The seventy were not gone for any great length of 
time, and returned in a joyful state because powers 
had been given them to heal diseases and to cast out 
devils. Jesus warned them not to rejoice too much 
in the jjower they possessed — not to glory in their 




SIDON. 

power to save souls — but to make it their chief joy 
that their own names were written in the Book of 
Life. 

Then began he, as on a former occasion, to upbraid 
the cities wherein most of his mighty works were 
done: "Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee, 
Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works which were done 



"I GO NOT UP YET TO THE FEAST.' 221 

in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would 
have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But 
I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre 
and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And 
thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, 
shalt be brought down to hell — that is, the place of 
the dead. For if the mighty works which have been 
done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have 
stood till this day. But I say unto you that it shall 
be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of 
judgment than for thee." 

Then Jesus turns from these sorrowful thoughts, 
and looking upward gives praise to God, saying : "I 
thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, be- 
cause thou hast hid these things from the wise and 
prudent, and revealed them unto babes. Even so, 
Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. All 
things were delivered to me of my Father : and no 
man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither know- 
eth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whom 
the Son willeth to reveal him." 

The wise and prudent were the proud Jews, the 
well-informed Scribes and Pharisees. The children 
were those who had believing hearts. Simple and 
trustful as babes they understood the Gospel. They 
might be ignorant of many things, but they knew 
about the love of Jesus, and believed in him. 

And with his heart filled with love to these little 
ones whom he would fain clasp in his arms, he spoke 
those words of gracious invitation which have brought 
peace and rest and balm to many a bleeding heart : 

" Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 
you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in 
heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my 
yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 

Jesus and his party left Samaria, and went towards 



222 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

one of the Jewish villages. Here they were met by 
a certain man, a Scribe, who said : "I will follow 
thee whithersoever thou goest." And Jesus said 
unto him : "The foxes have holes, and the birds of 
the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not 
where to lay his head." And Jesus said to another, 
"Follow me. Be my disciple."^ But the man said : 
"Suffer me first to go and bury my father." Jesus 
said unto him : ' ' Let the dead bury their own dead, 
but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." Bet- 
ter to leave the dead unburied than disobey the call of 
Jesus. Another said : "Lord, I will follow thee, but 
first suffer me to bid farewell to those that are at my 
house." Jesus said unto him: "No man, having 
put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is lit 
for the kingdom of God." 

The plough used in the East was easily overturned 
and, therefore, required close attention. When a 
man put his hand to the plough, intending to turn 
up the soil, and fit it for seed sowing, he must 
keep his hand there and not be looking behind him, 
or his work would be wasted. So those who have 
made up their minds to give up the world and follow 
Jesus, must fix their gaze on him, and give their 
whole hearts to the work. 

It was the intention of Jesus to go quietly up to 
Jerusalem at the time of the great Thanksgiving 
feast, but his brethren urged him to do otherwise. 
They said unto him : ' ' Depart hence, and go into 
Judea, that thy disciples also may behold the works 
that thou doest. For no one doeth anything in 
secret, who seeks to be known openly." 

The brethren of Jesus did not believe in him, or his 
claims to be the Messiah. Therefore they said to 
him : "If thou doest these miracles, make it known 
to everybody." Jesus said unto them: "My time is 
not yet come, but your time is always ready." 



THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. 223 

It was safe for them to go at any time and 
mingle with the wicked Jews. " The world cannot 
hate yon," said Jesns to his brethren, "but me it 
hateth, becanse I bear witness concerning it, that its 
works are wicked. Go ye np to the feast. I go not 
up to the feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled." 
And when he had said these things unto them, he 
abode still in Galilee. And when his brothers had 
been gone for a day or two, then Jesus went up also 
to Jerusalem, but in secret, and by a road not fre- 
quented by the public. 

The Jews, therefore, sought him at the feast, and 
said, "Where is he?" And there was much whis- 
pering among the multitudes because of him ; some 
saying, ' ' He is a good man ;' ' while others said, 
' ' No, he is not ; for he leads the common people 
astray." But both sides, through fear of the Jews, 
dared not speak out their thoughts aloud. They 
only half believed, and therefore were not bold. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES — THE SPEECH NEAR THE 
TREASURY — THE JEWS PICK HP STONES TO 
THROW AT HIM. 

By the 14th of October — or Tishri — the streets of 
Jerusalem were thronged with pilgrims, and the city 
presented a gay appearance. Booths made of fresh 
green boughs were in the streets and court-yards, 
and even on the housetoiDS, a leafy reminder of the 
days when the children of Israel were led through 
the wilderness, and had no other sort of houses to 
live in. 

The next day the feast began, and at the first dawn 
of morn, the priests blew their silver trumpets 
twenty-one times to awaken the sleepers. This was 



224 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

done each day ; and all day long the smoke of the 
bullocks that burned on the altar of sacrifice rose 
high on the air. 

The crowds as they met in Solomon's Porch, or 
elsewhere, talked in low tones about Jesus, and won- 
dered where he was, and why he did not appear. 

All at once Jesus came into the temple, unnoticed 
and unheralded, and was found teaching in one of 
the halls that open out of the temple-courts. No 
one knew by what road he came, nor why his disci- 
ples were not with him ; and we are not told how and 
where he lodged during the feast. 

The Jews listened to him in astonishment, wonder- 
ing how a man who had not been taught in their 
schools could become such a skilled and powerful 
teacher. 

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, answered them as 
if they had spoken aloud : " My teaching is not mine, 
but his that sent me. Those who have the will to do 
his will in my teaching will hear the voice of Gfod. 
If a man speaks from himself, he seeks his own 
glory ; but he who seeketh the glory of him who sent 
him, cannot be a false messenger, but his words are 
true. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none 
of you keepeth the law % Why seek ye to kill me % " 

Jesus had done nothing, and yet these men who 
professed to keep the whole law of Moses, were seek- 
ing to kill him. 

The people who knew not the designs of the Jews, 
answered Jesus : "Thou hast a demon ! Thou talk- 
est like a madman ! Who is there that seeketh to 
kill thee?" 

Jesus said unto them: " I have done one miracle, 
and ye all marveled and are angry with me because 
I healed a man on the Sabbath day." 

He referred to the miracle at the Pool of Bethesda, 
which had roused all the hatred of the Scribes and 



THE SPEECH NEAR THE TREASURY. 225 

Pharisees. And, though Jesus had done many other 
miracles in Jerusalem, all the good he had done was 
forgotten, and only this thing remembered — that he 
had broken one of God's commandments. 

Jesus showed them how they kept to the letter and 
not the spirit of the law, and asked them to be as 
kind and just in judging him, as they were in judg- 
ing themselves. Some of those who lived in Jeru- 
salem said : "Is not this he whom they seek to 
kill % And, lo, he speaketh out boldly, and they say 
nothing unto him ! Can it be that the rulers know 
that this is the Christ ? It cannot be ! For we know 
who this man is, and from whence he came ; but 
when the Christ comes, no one will know." 

Then Jesus raised his voice so that all could hear 
him, and said: "Ye both know me, and ye know 
from whence I came ; and I have not come of myself, 
but he that sent me is true whom ye know not. I 
know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." 

These were sharp words, for the men of Jerusalem 
claimed to know Gfod, and to be well-read in the 
Scriptures. To be found fault with in this way 
roused all their hatred, and they sought therefore to 
seize Jesus, and to put a stop to his teachings. But 
he escaped from them, and no one laid hands on him, 
for his hour had not yet come. 

Others in the crowd were drawn to Jesus. Their 
faith was stirred, and they believed in him, and they 
said among themselves : ' ' When the Christ comes 
will he do more signs than these which this man hath 
done?" 

Although the multitudes had spoken in secret in 
regard to Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees had heard 
of it, and fearing many might be won over to him, 
the chief priests sent out officers with orders to seize 
him. But Jesus felt no fear. He said: "Yet a 
little while I am with you, and then I go unto him. 



226 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, 

that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find 
me ; and where I am, ye cannot come." 

The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where 
will he go that we cannot find him ? Will he go 
among the Greeks and teach them ? What does he 
mean when he says, ' Ye shall seek me and shall not 
find me, and where I am ye cannot come ? ' " 

Every morning while the Jews were assembling in 
the temple-courts, one of the priests went down to 
the Pool of Siloam, and brought up water from 
thence in a golden urn. Amid the sounding of 
trumpets and the singing of hymns of praise and 
thanksgiving, the priest poured the water on the 
altar, as a type of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. 
In the evening the rejoicing was kept up in the courts 
of the women with singing and music, and the blaze 
of the great lamp lit up the temple, and could be 
seen all over the city. 

The people chanted the Hallel from the Psalms of 
David,* which was a hymn of thanksgiving, begin- 
ning with, "Praise ye the Lord!" and ending with, 
" O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good ; for 
his mercy endureth forever." As they sang this 
they waved the palm branches they carried in their 
hands, and at the end of each section the priest blew 
a threefold blast, while the people bowed down to 
worship. 

To this was added a praise song from Isaiah : "Be- 
hold God is my salvation ; I will trust, and not be 
afraid ; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and 
my song ; he also is become my salvation." 

" Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the 
wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, 
'Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his 



* Psalms cxiii, cxviii: Isaiah xii, 




WAVING THE BRANCHES AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, 



THE SPEECH NEAR THE TREASURY. 229 

doings among the people. Cry out and shout, thou 
inhabitant of Zion : for great is the Holy One of 
Israel in the midst of thee.' " 

Thus they sang each day with ringing voices, but 
with dull hearts, for they did not understand the 
meaning of the words. They did not know that the 
Messiah was even then with them. 

It was now the last and great day of the feast. 
For seven days had the water been poured upon the 
altar, in memory of the miraculous supply of water 
in the wilderness. And now the services were at an 
end. The priests marched seven times around the 
altar and passed out of the temple. The people 
pulled the willow branches from the altar, and beat 
the palm branches to pieces. By afternoon all the 
booths were torn down, and the pilgrims made ready 
for the homeward march. 

After the pouring on of the water, and after the 
people had given thanks and prayed that God would 
send them salvation and prosperity, there was a 
pause — a solemn hush. Then Jesus stood up, and 
cried out with a loud voice, so that his words could 
be heard throughout the temple : "If any one thirst, 
let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth 
in me, as the Scripture said, out of his heart shall 
flow rivers of living water." And this spake he con- 
cerning the spirit which they that believed in him 
were to receive ; for the spirit was not yet given, 
because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Some of the multitude therefore when they heard 
these words, said : "Of a truth, this is the Prophet." 
Others said: "This is the Christ." Some said: 
" What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee ? Hath 
not the Scripture said, that the Christ cometh out of 
the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village 
where David was ?" There arose therefore a division 
among the multitude because of him. And some of 



2 3 o THE LIFE OF fESUS CHRIST. 

them would have seized him, but no man dared to 
lay hands on him. 

The officers who had been sent out by the chief 
priests and Pharisees listened awestruck to the 
words of Jesus, and lingered near him for a day or 
two without power to arrest him. 

Seventy of the chief priests and Pharisees formed a 
court of law, called the Sanhedrin, and when the 
officers came back without their man, the chief 
priests and Pharisees said unto them : ' ' Why have 
ye not brought him ? " 

To this question the officers could only answer, 
"Never did any man speak like this man." 
Whether it was the charm of his voice or his pres- 
ence that held them spellbound they could not tell. 
But they were powerless to do him harm. 

Then said the Pharisees with a sneer, "Have ye 
also been led astray ? Hath any one of the rulers or 
the Pharisees believed in him ? Ye can see for your- 
selves that none of the learned ones are drawn toward 
him, but only the ignorant and foolish people that 
know not the law. And their unbelief brings with it 
a curse." 

But among the rulers of the Jews was one Mcode- 
mus, he who came to Jesus by night and was secretly 
his friend. He had partly overcome his fears, and 
said to the other members of the Sanhedrin, " Doth 
our law judge a man, except it have first heard from 
himself and learned what he hath done ? " They an- 
swered and said unto him : " Art thou also of Gali- 
lee ? Search and see that out of Galilee ariseth no 
prophet." And Nicodemus was left alone, to mourn 
that he had not done more for Jesus. 

On the eighth day no work was done, the festive 
rites were at an end, but the temple was still 
thronged with worshipers. In the evening Jesus sat 
in the Court of the Women, near to the Treasury, 



THE SPEECH NEAR THE TREASURY. 231 

where the thirteen chests were with trumpet-shaped 
mouths, into which the Jews threw their gifts. In 
this court were four immense candelabra, over fifty 
feet in height, beautifully gilded, at the top of which 
lamps were lit that illumined the whole city. Around 
these lamps, which were the pride of Jerusalem, the 
people gathered and joined in the songs and dances 
of the Harvest-feast. 

As the water symbolized the rock that was opened 
for them in the wilderness, so was the light a symbol 
of the Pillar of Fire — both of them referring to Christ 
and his coming. 

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke unto them, saying, 
"I am the light of the world ; he that folio weth me 
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of 
life." The Pharisees, therefore, said unto him, 
"Thou bearest record of thyself, and thy record is 
not true." Jesus said unto them, "Even though I 
bear record of myself my record is true, because I 
know whence I came and whither I go; but ye know 
not whence I come or whither I go. Ye judge after 
the flesh by outward appearance. I judge no one. 
But even if I judge, my judgment is true, because I 
am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 

' ' In your own law also it is written that the testi- 
mony of two men is true. I am he that beareth wit- 
ness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth 
witness concerning me. Then they said unto him, 
"Where is thy Father ?" Jesus answered, "Ye know 
neither me nor my Father. If ye knew me, ye would 
know my Father also." While Jesus thus spoke 
the people stood awestruck, and though he was in 
the very stronghold of his enemies, not one of them 
laid hands on him for his hour had not yet come. 

Knowing how they felt toward him, Jesus said to 
them, in the saddest of tones, "I go my way, ye 
shall seek me, and in your sins ye shall die. 



232 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Whither I go ye cannot come." They thought he 
spoke of his dying, and said, "Will he kill himself? 
because he saith whither I go ye cannot come." 

This was the only separation they thought of, 
though Jesus spoke to them so plainly. 

Jesus said unto them, "Ye are from beneath. I 
am from above. Ye are of this world, I am not of 
this world. I said therefore unto you that ye shall 
die in your sins. For if ye shall not believe that I 
am, ye shall die in your sins." 

They said therefore unto him, "Who art thou?" 
Jesus said unto them, "Even the same that I told 
you from the beginning. Why am I even speaking 
to you at all \ 

"I have many things to speak and to judge con- 
cerning you. Nevertheless he that sent me is true ; 
and the words which I have heard from him, these 
do I speak unto the world." His hearers understood 
not that he spoke of God, their Heavenly Father. 

Jesus therefore said, "When ye have lifted on 
high the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I 
am, and that of myself I do nothing ; but even as 
the Father taught me speak I these things. And 
he that sent me is with me ; he hath not left me 
alone, because 1 do always the things that are pleas- 
ing to him." God will be with those who do his 
will. As he spoke these words many of his hearers 
believed on him. They were drawn toward him, 
and felt that his mission must be divine. 

Jesus, knowing their hearts, spoke to those who 
believed in him, saying, "If ye abide in my word, if 
ye continue to have faith in me, then are ye indeed 
my disciples. And ye shall know the truth, and the 
truth shall make you free." 

He meant that they would be drawn to Jesus, see 
him in the right light, and be freed from the power of 
Satan. The Jews put a different meaning to his 



THE SPEECH NEAR THE TREASURY. 233 

words, and therefore said, "We are Abraham's seed 
and were never in bondage to any one. How sayest 
thou then, ye shall become free \ " 

Jesus answered them, " Yerily, verily, I say unto 
you, every one who doeth sin is the slave of sin. And 
the slave has no claim to a place in the house, but the 
son dwells there forever. If the son therefore shall 
make you free, ye shall be free indeed." 

The Jews thought that being heirs of Abraham, 
they were sons of God. Jesus wished them to under- 
stand that Abraham could not give them an entrance 
into heaven, and so long as they were the slaves of 
sin they would have no place in God's house. Christ 
was the only one who could open the door to them, 
and through him they might become sons of God. 

Jesus sail, " I know that ye are Abraham's seed ; 
but ye seek to kill me, because my word has not 
found its way to your hearts. I speak the things 
which I have seen with the Father, ye do that which 
ye have heard from your father. ' ' 

They said unto him, "Abraham is our father." 
Jesus saith unto them, "If ye are Abrabam's chil- 
dren do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to 
kill me, a man that hath spoken to you the truth 
which I heard from God. This did not Abraham. 
Ye do the works of your father." 

Jesus showed that if they were true sons of Abra- 
ham, they would have some of his spirit and faith, 
and they would know him and love him, and not seek 
to kill him. But they failed to understand Jesus 
when he spoke of the Father, so plainer words must 
be used. When he said, "ye do the works of your 
father," they thought he charged them with being 
heathens, and worshipers of idols. They said there- 
fore, " We have one Father, even God." 

Jesus said unto them, ' ' If God were your Father 
ye would love me, for I come forth from God. I 



234 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

have not come of myself, but lie sent me. Why do 
ye not know my speech \ Because ye cannot hear my 
word." What Jesus taught was hateful to them. 
They could not bear to hear it. The reason was as 
Jesus said : 

u Ye are of your father, the devil, and the works of 
your father it is your will to do. He was a man- 
killer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth 
because there is no truth in him. Whenever he 
speaks a lie he speaks it because he loves falsehood, 
for he (Satan) is a liar, and the father of all those who 
tell lies. But because I tell you the truth ye 
believe me not." 

This proved that they were not children of God, 
but children of the devil. 

u Which of you can charge me with sin % If I say 
truth, why do ye not believe me ? He that is of God, 
heareth the words of God; for this cause ye hear not, 
because ye are not of God." 

Were they children of God they would take the 
teachings of Jesus to their hearts, but his words 
seemed only to rouse their hatred. And the Jews 
answered, and said unto him, ' ' Say we not well that 
thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon ?" No one 
but a madman, they thought could utter such words 
as these. 

Jesus answered, "I have not a demon; but I honor 
my Father, and ye do dishonor me." 

The Jews hated the Samaritans, and their taunt 
was the same as if they had said, ' ' Thou art a child 
of the devil, and hast a demon." Jesus denied this ? 
for his whole desire was to glorify his Heavenly 
Father. "I seek not my glory," he said; there is 
one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, if a man hath kept my word he shall not 
see death." 

Then said the Jews to him, "Now we know that 



THE JEWS PICK UP STONES. 235 

thou hast a demon. Abraham is dead, and the 
prophets, and thou sayest, ' If a man have kept my 
word he shall never taste of death.' Art thou 
greater than our father, Abraham, who died \ And 
the prophets who died. Whom makest thou thy- 
self ? " 

Ah, these wily Jews thought that they had found 
him out. By his own words they had caught him at 
last, and proved that their charges were true ! 

Jesus answered, " If I glorify myself, my glory is 
nothing ; it is my Father that gloriiieth me, of whom 
ye say he is your God. Yet ye have not known him; 
but I know him ; and if I should say I know him not, 
I shall be like unto you, a liar. But I know him, 
and keep his word. Your father, Abraham, rejoiced 
to see my day ; and he saw it, and was glad." 

Abraham longed to see this day, and through faith 
in the promise of God he saw it in the far distance 
and was filled with joy and gladness. But the Jews, 
who despised Jesus, and rejected him as their Saviour, 
did not the works of Abraham. Nor could they 
understand what Jesus meant when he said, ' ' Your 
father, Abraham, rejoiced to see my day." 

Therefore they said to him, " Thou art not yet fifty 
years old, and has thou seen Abraham?" Jesus 
said, "Before Abraham was born, I am." The 
thought of Jesus as a Saviour of men was in God's 
heart long before Abraham was born. 

His words threw the Jews into a great rage. This 
man of low rank and birth claimed to be superior to 
Abraham, the father of the faithful ! It was rank 
blasphemy ! And rushing from the Porch out into 
the Court of the Gentiles, they picked up stones 
to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself for the 
moment, behind one of the columns, or in one of the 
many small rooms, and then making his way through 
the crowd passed out of the temple. 



236 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

His hour had not yet come, and no one could harm 
him. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

THE MAN BORN BLIND — THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP- 
FOLD — JESUS SAYS, I AM THE DOOR — HE LEAVES 
GALILEE. 

As Jesus passed out of the temple, he saw a man 
who had been blind from his birth. And the disci- 
ples asked him, saying. "Rabbi, who did sin, this 
man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" 
It was the common belief that special sins in the pa- 
rents would cause special diseases in their children. 

Jesus answered, " Neither did this man sin, nor his 
parents ; but he was born blind that the works of 
God might be made manifest in him. I must work 
the works of him that sent me, while it is day. The 
night cometh, when no one can work. Whensoever 
I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, 
and made clay of the spittle, and with this clay 
anointed the eyes of the blind man. And he said 
unto him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." The 
meaning of the word Siloam, is "sent," or "sent 
forth." Jesus did not need to make use of the 
waters. But he wished to draw out the man's faith, 
to make him feel that he owed his cure to One sent of 
God to open the eyes of the blind. And the man 
went away, and washed, and came back cured of his 
blindness. 

The neighbors, therefore, and those who had seen 
him previously and knew that he had been blind all 
his life, said, ' ' Is not this the blind beggar we used 



THE MAN BORN BLIND. 239 

to see sitting by the roadside \ " Some said, "It is 
he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." But 
the man himself said, "I am he." 

They said therefore to him, " How then were thine 
eyes opened?" He answered, " The man that is called 
Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said 
unto me, "Go to Siloam, and wash." I went away 
therefore, and washed, and I received my sight." 
And they said unto him, "Where is he ? " He 
answered, "I know not." 

Then they brought the man to the Pharisees, that 
they might make a charge against Jesus. For it was 
on the Sabbath day that Jesus made the clay and 
opened his eyes, and thereby broke the Jewish law, 
which forbade any work being done on that day. 

Again therefore the Pharisees asked him how he 
had received his sight. And he said unto them, "He 
put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and do see." 
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, ' ' This man is 
not from God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath 
day." Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner 
do such miracles % ' ' And there was a division among 
them, some being for, and others against Jesus. 

They say therefore unto the blind man again, 
' ' What sayest thou of him that opened thine eyes ? ' ' 
And he said, "He is a prophet." But the Jews did 
not believe that the man had been born blind and 
received his sight until they had called upon his 
parents to inquire concerning the truth of the matter. 
And they asked them, saying, " Is this your son, who 
ye say was born blind % How then doth he now see V ' 
His parents answered and said, "We know that this 
is our son, and that he was born blind. But by what 
means he now seeth, we know not ; or who opened 
his eyes, we know not ; ask him, he is of age ; he 
shall speak for himself. ' ' 

These things said his parents because they feared 



240 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the Jews, for the Jews had already declared that 
whoever confessed that Jesus was the Christ should 
be put out of the synagogue. 

To a Jew this was a terrible punishment. He 
would be shunned like a leper, and would sit on the 
ground, and bear himself like one in deep grief. He 
would not shave, but would let his beard and hair 
grow wild and shaggy. He would not bathe nor 
anoint himself, and if he died in the meantime stones 
would be thrown at him, and curses, and no one 
would be permitted to mourn for him. Henceforth 
he was as one dead, for he could not study with the 
others, for no one was to have speech with him, or 
even show him the road. He might buy such food 
as he needed to keep himself alive, but it was forbid- 
den that any one should eat or drink with him. 
Therefore, in their dread of being put under ban, 
the parents of the blind man said, "He is of age ; ask 
him. ' ' 

The Jews, wishing to force from the man a confes- 
sion that Jesus was an impostor, called him up 
before them a second time, and said unto him, ' ' Give 
God the glory. We know that this man is a sinner." 
He answered, ' ' Whether he be a sinner, I know not ; 
one thing I do know and that is, that whereas I was 
blind, now I see." 

They said therefore to him again, " What did he 
do to thee ? how opened he thine eyes ? ' ' He 
answered them, ' ' I have told you already and ye did 
not hear ; wherefore would ye hear it again ? would 
ye also become his disciples ? ' '■ And they cursed 
him, and said, ' ' Thou art his discij^le ; but we are 
Moses's disciples. We know that God hath spoken 
unto Moses ; but as for this man, we know not 
whence he is." 

The man answered and said unto them, ' ' Why, 
herein lies the marvelous thing, that ye knoAV not 



THE MAN BORN BLIND. 241 

from whence lie is, and yet lie opened my eyes. We 
know that God heareth not sinners ; but if any man 
be a worshiper of God, and do his will, him he 
heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that 
any one opened the eyes of a man who was born 
blind. If this man were not from God, he could do 
nothing." 

These Jews thought they were doing the will of 
God by holding on to the law of Moses. The blind 
beggar, having his eyes opened, saw more clearly, 
had more faith, and undertook to lead the Jews out 
of darkness into light. We are blind until Jesus 
touches our eyes, and being saved ourselves our first 
impulse is to try and save others. But these rulers 
of the Jews, these wise Rabbis, were furious at being 
spoken to in this way, and by such a man. They 
Christ' s disciples indeed \ Far from it ! The charge 
stung them to the quick ! 

They answered and said unto him with scorn, 
1 ' Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou 
teach us ?" And they put him out and left him to his 
fate, thinking it were better if he had remained a 
blind beggar at the roadside. 

But there was one watching over him who had 
been born blind, and when Jesus heard that the Jews 
had cast him out he found him, and said, " Dost thou 
believe in the Son of God % " 

He answered and said, "Who is he, Lord, that I 
may believe in him % ' ' Jesus said unto him, ' ' Thou 
hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with 
thee." And he said, " I believe, Lord;" and he 
worshiped him. 

In his heart he had seen Jesus. He was no longer 
in the dark, and trusting to blind guides, but Jesus, 
the Light of the world, had shone in upon him. 

And Jesus said, "For a judgment came I into this 
world, that they which see not may see, and that they 



242 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

which see may become blind." Now some of the 
Jews had followed Jesus, not being led away by the 
teachings of the Pharisees, and these, when they 
heard his words, said unto Jesus, "Are we blind 
also?" Jesus said, u Ifye were blind, ye would 
not have sin ; but now ye say, ' We see ; ' and are 
guilty of sin." 

Their sin was in not coming to Jesus. The light 
was at their door, and yet they sat in darkness. It 
was their own fault. 

Jesus felt a great pity for these people, who were 
as a flock without a shepherd ; and he spoke to them 
in a sort of parable. The sheep-fold was a large open 
space inclosed by a fence or by walls of no great 
height. There was but one door to the fold, and 
this was kept by a porter, who would let in only 
those who had a right to enter. In the morning the 
shepherds come to lead forth their nocks, and each 
shepherd knows his own flock, and calls them by 
name, and leads them out. Then the Eastern shep- 
herd puts himself at the head of his flock, and goes 
before them to lead them in the right way. For 
they follow his voice. 

Should any one try to get into the fold, by 
climbing the fence, or some other way, the one on 
guard would know at once that he was a thief or 
a robber, and had no right there. He wishes to get 
near the flock, and to lead them in the wrong 
direction. So there were good and false teachers 
in the world, and that they might know how 
to tell them, Jesus said unto those before him, "He 
that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold but 
climbeth up from some other quarter the same is a 
thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the 
door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter 
openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth 
his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When 



THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP-FOLD. 243 

he hath put out all his own sheep, he goeth before 
them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his 
voice. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee 
from him, for they know not the voice of strangers." 
This parable said Jesus unto them, but they under- 
stood not the meaning of his words. 

Jesus, therefore, said unto them again, " Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 
All that came before me are thieves and robbers, but 
the sheep did not hear them. I am the door ; by me 
if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go 
in and out and iind pasture. The thief cometh not 
but that he may steal and kill and destroy. I 
came that they may have life and abundance of 
good things." 

Jesus said, "I am the door." He was to lead his 
flock out of the Jewish fold, into the rich pastures of 
the kingdom of God. Some had falsely claimed the 
place that belonged to him, but those who trusted in 
God were kept from these deceivers. These false 
shepherds had sought their own good, and not that 
of the flock, and would not care for their lives or 
their safety. 

Jesus said, in contrast to this : "I am the good 
shepherd. The good shepherd layeth down his life 
for the sheep. But he that is an hireling and not a 
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth 
the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, 
because he is only hired, and careth more to save his 
own life than to save the sheep % And the wolf catches 
them, and they are scattered. I am the good shep- 
herd, and I know my sheep, and am known of mine 
even as the Father knoweth me and I know the Fa- 
ther. And I lay down my life for the sheep. And 
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold ; them 
also I must lead, and they shall hear my voice. And 
they shall become one flock, one shepherd. There- 



244 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

fore doth the Father love me because I lay down my 
life that I may take it again. No man taketh it from 
me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay 
it down, and I have power to take it again. This 
commandment I received of my Father." 

There were others, Gentiles, outside the Jewish 
fold. They were his, and they knew his voice, and 
followed him. He must die to save the life of his 
sheep, and would then rise again, to gather them all 
into one flock and to be their shepherd. This was 
his mission on earth. This was the work Gfod had 
sent him to do. 

There arose a great strife among the Jews because 
of these words. Many of them said, "He hath a 
devil and is mad, why hear ye him % ' ' Others said : 
" These are not the words of one that is possessed by 
a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind % " 

Thus ended the visit of Jesus to the Feast of the 
Tabernacles. In spite of all that he had said and 
done, the greater part of the Jews looked upon him 
with hatred. He had more enemies than friends in 
Jerusalem ; and, feeling that his life was in danger, 
he withdrew from the city, and went into Gfalilee to 
visit his old home at Capernaum, which he was soon 
to leave forever. 

In the meantime the seventy whom Jesus had sent 
out had returned with great joy, for power had been 
given them to heal the sick, and also to cast out dev- 
ils. Jesus told them not to rejoice too much over the 
power they had, but to be chiefly glad that their 
names were written in the Book of Life. 

There were some present at that time who told him 
of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with 
their sacrifices. The Galileans were known to be hot- 
blooded, and at some feast in the temple they got into 
a quarrel with Pilate's soldiers and several of them 
were killed. The Jews thought that it was terrible 



THE TRANSFIGURATION. 245 

to die under such circumstances, and a proof of God's 
displeasure. Jesus answered and said: "Suppose 
ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the 
Galileans, because they have suffered these things ? I 
tell you nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall perish 
in like manner. Or those eighteen upon whom the 
tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that 
they were sinners above all the men that dwell in 
Jerusalem ? I tell you, nay : but except ye repent 
ye shall all likewise perish." 

And he spake this parable : "A certain man had a 
fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking 
fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he to the 
vine-dresser, ' Behold, these three years I come seek- 
ing fruit on the fig-tree, and find none. Cut it down : 
why cumbereth it the ground ? ' And he, answering, 
saith unto him, ' Lord, let it alone this year also till 
I shall dig about it, and manure the roots; and if it 
bear fruit after that, well; and, if not, then thou shalt 
cut it down.' " 

The owner of the vineyard is God. The vine-dresser 
is our Lord. The fig-tree is the Jewish nation, and 
the vineyard is the world. The fig-tree, if in good 
condition, bears fruit at the end of three years; but 
Jesus had been preaching to the Jews for three years 
with no results from his labors. Still he pleads for 
them, and holds out the hope that, by care and atten- 
tion to the roots, on which its life depends, it would 
yet bear fruit to God' s glory. 

The feast of the Dedication of the Temple took 
place in Jerusalem two months after the Feast of 
Tabernacles. Brief as was the time that Jesus could 
stay at his home, the Pharisees could not let him re- 
main in peace. Pretending to be alarmed for the 
safety of Jesus, they came to him saying, ' ' Get thee 
out, and depart from this place, for Herod wishes to 
kill thee." And he said unto them, " Go and say to 



246 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



that fox, ' Behold, I cast out devils and heal men to- 
day and to-morrow, and the third day come to the 
end.' " 




THE UNFRUITFUL TREE. 



The meaning of this is, I shall stay in your terri- 
tory for three days, healing the sick of their diseases, 
and doing my work, and at the end of the third day 
will continue my journey. 



IN PEREA. 247 

He was not afraid of Herod's threats, and said to 
the Pharisees, u Nevertheless, I must go on my jour- 
ney to-day and to-morrow, and the day following, for 
it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." 
In that city many a holy man had been put to death, 
and Jesus, knowing what was to take j)lace there, 
cried out, with a sad voice : u O Jerusalem, Jerusa- 
lem ! that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them 
that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gath- 
ered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth 
her brood under her wings, and ye would not ! Be- 
hold, your house is left unto you desolate, forsaken ; 
and I say unto you, ye shall not see me until ye shall 
say, ' Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the 
Lord!'" 

And when he had finished these sayings, Jesus de- 
parted from Galilee, and came into the borders of 
Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes 
followed him, and he healed them there. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

IN PEEEA — WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR % — PARABLE OF THE 
GOOD SAMARITAN — THE MAN WITH THE DROPSY 
— THE GREAT SUPPER — THE LOST SHEEP — THE 
LOST PIECE OF MONEY — THE LOST SON. 

Jesus passed through Perea, and as he taught in 
one of the synagogues there, a certain lawyer stood 
up to question him and to see if he could tell him 
anything new or strange. And he asked him, saying, 
"Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 
Jesus said unto him : " What is written in the law? 
How readest thou ? " The lawyer said, "Thou shalt 
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with 



248 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

all tliy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all 
thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said 
unto him: " Thou hast answered right. This do and 
thou shalt live." 

But he, wishing to justify himself and to prove that 
he led a righteous life, said unto Jesus, " And who is 
my neighbor?" Jesus said, in reply: A certain 
man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and 
he fell among robbers, who stripped him, and beat 
him, and went away leaving him half dead. 

By chance a certain priest was going down that 
way, and when he saw the poor helpless man he 
passed by on the other side. By chance also a Levite, 
one who taught the law and served in the temple, 
came to the place and looked at the man, and passed 
by on the other side. 

Haply a Samaritan journeyed that way and came 
to the place where he was. And when he saw him he 
was moved with compassion. He did not ask who 
the man was, or how he received his wounds. His 
only thought was that he needed help. So he went 
to him, and mixing together some oil and wine which 
were used as remedies in the East, he bound up the 
wounds. Then he lifted him on his own beast, and 
walking by his side, brought him to one of the inns 
or khans where travelers were lodged free of expense. 
But they were charged for any food that might be 
furnished man or beast, and for any care taken of the 
latter. In this case the Samaritan took care of the 
wounded man himself, and stayed with him all that 
night. 

The next morning, when he was obliged to continue 
his journey, he gave to the host two Roman coins, 
each one of which was worth about eight cents of our 
money. A penny a day — eight cents — was a laborer's 
wages, and the Samaritan told the landlord to take 
care of the man, and if he was obliged to spend any 



PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 249 

more money lie would pay him back when he came 
that way again. 

" Which of these three, thinkest thou, was a neigh- 
bor unto him that fell among thieves ? " 

The lawyer said, "He that had pity on him." 

And Jesus said, "Go, and do thou likewise." 

Thus did Jesus teach a lesson of love to all man- 
kind. We make ourselves neighbors by being kind 
to those who are in need of help. We are not to turn 
aside from those avIio are not related to us, or who 
are perhaps in a lower walk of life. But with willing 
hands, ready feet, and pitying hearts, we are to do 
good to all we can. In this way we show our love to 
Christ. It is not enough to know the law. We must 
do it from our hearts. 

It was twenty-one miles from Jerusalem to Jericho, 
over a desert road that was infested by robbers. A 
man stripped, and beaten, and left for dead, was in a 
sad plight, depending for his life on those who might 
chance to pass that way. Jesus brought out the cru- 
elty and pride of the Jews, by making the priest and 
the Levite pass by on the other side. How had they 
read the word of God % The Jews looked down on 
the Samaritans, but here was one of that hated race 
doing noble work, and serving God with a truer spirit 
than did the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees. 
Shall the heathen put us to shame \ 

It came to pass that ' ' Jesus went to the house of 
one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on 
the Sabbath day. The Jews gave feasts on the Sab- 
bath, the food being cooked the day before. A 
number of guests were present at this feast, most 
of them being Pharisees, who did all they could to 
entangle Our Lord in his talk. And there came in 
a man with the dropsy. 

Jesus, knowing the thoughts of the Pharisees, said 
unto them, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or 



250 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

not \ " But they held their peace. And he took hold 
of the man and healed him, and then sent him away. 
And he said unto the Pharisees, "Which of you, 
if an ass or an ox fall into a pit, will not straightway 
pull him out on a Sabbath day ? ' ' 

And they could make no answer to these things, 
but only hated him the more. And he spoke a para- 
ble to the guests, when he saw how they chose the 
chief places at the table, saying, "When thou art 
invited to a marriage-feast, sit not down in the chief 
place lest haply a more distinguished man than thou 
be among the guests. And the host shall come and 
say to thee, ' Gfive place to this man,' and thou shalt 
go with shame to take the lowest seat at the table. 
But, when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the 
lowest place, that when he who invited thee comes 
into the room, he may say unto thee, ' Friend, go up 
higher.' Then shalt thou have honor in the presence 
of every one that sits at meat with thee. For every 
one that exalted himself shall be humbled, and he 
that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Jesus had spoken to the guests, who were self- 
seeking and full of pride, thinking themselves better 
than other men. Jesus then turned to the host, who 
in the same spirit had invited to his feast only the 
rich and those of his own class. 

Jesus said to him : "When thou makest a dinner 
or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, 
nor thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors, lest haply 
they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made 
thee. But when thou makest a feast, call in the poor, 
the maimed, the lame, and the blind. And thou 
shalt be blessed, because they have not wherewith to 
recompense thee. For thou shalt be recompensed in 
the resurrection of the just. 

When one of those who sat at the table heard these 
words, he said, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in 




CASTING OUT THE GUEST WHO HAD NO WEDDING GARMENT. 



THE GREAT SUPPER, 253 

the kingdom of God ! " feeling certain that he would 
be among the number. 

But Jesus said unto him : "A certain man made a 
great supper, to which many were invited. And, at 
supper time, he sent out his servant to say to those 
who were bidden, 'Come, for everything is now 
ready.' And they all, with one consent, began to 
make excuse. The first said unto him, 'I have 
bought a piece of land, and must needs go out and 
see it ; I pray thee have me excused.' And another 
said, ' I have bought five yoke of oxen, and am going 
out to try them ; I pray thee have me excused.' And 
another said, ' I have married a wife, and therefore I 
cannot come.' And the servant came and told his 
lord these things. Then the master of the house, 
being angry, said to his servant, ' Go out quickly into 
the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither 
the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind.' And 
presently the servant came back, and said, ' What 
thou didst command me to do is done, and yet" there 
is room.' And the lord said to the servant, 'Go out 
into the highways and hedges, and beg them to come 
in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, 
that none of those that were bidden shall taste of my 
supper.' " 

The meaning of the parable is this : God had pre- 
pared a great feast to which the Jews, his chosen 
people were, invited. Isaiah* had written, ' ' In this 
mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all 
people a feast of fat things." And further on he had 
said, " Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for him, 
and he will save us. This is the Lord." Yet they 
did not seem to remember. For when the master 
sent out his servant to tell those who were invited 
that everything was ready they made all sorts of 



*Xsaiali xxv, 6, 



254 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

excuses. They did not care for the feast, and would 
not give up any of their worldly plans in order to be 
present. 

Then the master sent out the servant, and bade 
him go into the broad streets and quiet lanes, and to 
bring in those who in their poverty and wretched- 
ness would shrink from coming to so rich a feast. 
Even when this was done, there was room, and to 
spare. For the lord's house was large and he had 
spread a great feast. 

Then he sent his servant out again, telling him to 
go among the highways and hedges, and to bring in 
the outcast and the strangers, and those who were 
worn and weary with life's journey. These would 
make excuses, of course, and say they did not know 
the master of the house, and had no clothes to 
appear in. 

The messenger was to tell them of t3k>d's great love, 
to make them feel that Jesus was their friend, and 
to bring them with him to the Master, that the house 
above might be filled. 

Jesus had but few friends now, and many foes, and 
wherever he went he was followed by the Scribes and 
Pharisees who watched him closely. As he went 
through Perea, however, on his way to Jericho, many 
publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear 
him. The Scribes and Pharisees murmured at this, 
saying, ' ' This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with 
them." 

These purse-proud men felt that they had done 
Jesus a great honor by inviting him to their feasts 
and making him their guest, and they did not like 
him to lower himself in this way. 

Jesus spoke unto them this parable, saying, "What 
man of you, if he had a hundred sheep, and lost one 
of them, would not leave the ninety and nine in the 
wilderness, and search for the lost one till he find 



THE LOST SHEEP. 



255 



it? and when he hath found it he layeth it on his 
shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home he 
calleth together his friends and his neighbors, say- 
ing unto them, 'Rejoice with me ; for I have found 
my sheep which was lost.' I say unto you, that even 




THE LOST SHEEP. 



so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that 
repenteth more than over the ninety and nine just 
persons who have no need of repentance." 

If a man have a hundred sheep, and lose one of 
them, he might say, "That is not much of a loss. 



256 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Let him go." But Jesus — the Good Shepherd — know- 
ing how easy it is for the sheep to wander, follows 
after the lost one, seeking for it everywhere. "When 
he rinds it, he takes it up in his arms, and with 
tender care places it upon his shoulders. In this way 
he bears us and all our burdens, and being brought 
near to him by our wounds and sorrows, we find what 
a loving Saviour he is, and keep close within sound 
of his voice forever after. 

When a child is lost, how we wait and watch for 
the one word that will give the good news. And 
when the cry of " saved ! " is heard on the air, there 
is rejoicing in every home, and all hearts are glad. 
How much greater the joy of angels over the saving 
of a lost soul. Love and pity will work wonders. 

Again Jesus speaks a parable, saying, "What 
woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one 
piece doth not light a candle and sweep the house, 
and search diligently until she find it ? And when 
she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and. 
neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found 
the piece which I had lost.' Even so, I say unto you, 
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over 
one sinner that repenteth." 

The lost piece of money represents a lost soul 
which a woman goes forth to rescue. The candle or 
lamp, she takes is the Holy Spirit, which throws a 
light on the word of God, and enables her to see her 
duty clearly. All is still, and she searches diligently, 
praying earnestly, that out of the filth and dust of 
the world she may find this piece of money, which 
now that it is lost seems worth more than all her pos- 
sessions. What joy is hers when she can bring it 
into the house of God, and know that it is safe ! A 
joy in which all the angels share ! 

In both these parables, Jesus showed what men 
would do when they lost their worldly goods, If the 



THE LOST SON. 257 

loss of a sheep or a coin, could so disturb the peace of 
mind, how much greater ought to be the distress 
when a human soul was lost ! 

And he said, "A certain man had two sons; and 
the younger of them said to his father, ' Father, give 
me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he 
divided unto them his living, giving to each the 
amount of property the law allowed him. And not 
many days after the younger son gathered all his 
money together, and took his departure into a far 
country, and there he wasted his substance in riotous 
living. And when he had spent all there arose a 
mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in 
want. And he went and joined himself to one of the 
citizens of that country, and he sent him into his 
fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled 
himself with the husks that the swine did eat. They 
were fed, but no man gave food to him. So great was 
his hunger that he was almost driven mad. But 
when he came to himself, he said, ' How many hired 
servants of my father's have bread enough and to 
spare, and I perish here with hunger ! I will arise 
and go to my father, and will say unto him, "Father, 
I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and 
I am no more worthy to be called thy son ; make me 
as one of thy hired servants." ' And he arose, and 
came to his father. 

' ' While he was yet a great way off, his father saw 
him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and 
fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said 
unto him, ' Father, I have sinned against heaven, and 
in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called 
thy son.' But the father said to his servants, ' Bring 
hither the best robe and put it on him ; and put a 
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring 
hither the fatted calf, and kill it ; and let us eat and 
be merry ; for this my son was dead, and is alive 



258 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST 



again ; he was lost, and is found.' 



And they began 
to be merry. 

"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came 
and drew near to the house, he heard music and 
dancing. And he called to him one of the servants, 
and asked what these things meant. And he said 




THE PRODIGAL'S RETURN. 

unto him, 'Thy brother is come ; and thy father hath 
killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him 
safe and sound.' And he was angry, and would not 
go in ; therefore his father came out and entreated 
him. But he answering said to his father, 'Lo, these 
many years have I served thee, nor transgressed I 



THE LOST SON. 259 

at any time thy commandments ; and yet thou never 
gavest me so much as a kid, that I might make 
merry with my friends. But when this thy son came, 
who had wasted his substance in riotous living, thou 
didst kill for him the fatted calf.' And he said unto 
him, ' Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine 
is thine. It was meet that we should make merry 
and be glad ; for this thy brother was dead, and is 
alive again ; was lost, and is found.' " 

The prodigal son is he who wastes the talents God 
has given him. This one wished to be free from all 
restraint, and to make his own way in the world, so 
he went off into a far country. He spent his money 
with a lavish hand, and made friends with the very 
lowest. After awhile conscience smote him, and he 
sought relief in work. To a Jew, there could be 
nothing more degrading than to feed swine ; the flesh 
of which he was forbidden to eat. This man might 
have fed on the pods of the carob tree, which he gave 
to the swine, but would not satisfy his hunger. It 
was a craving for something better. 

Then he thought of the goodness of God, and his 
own guilt in thus wandering away among sinners. 
He was ashamed of his conduct, but felt in his heart 
that his father would forgive him. Penitent, and 
humble he turned his face toward home. His father 
who had been on the lookout for him, saw him com- 
ing and ran out to meet him. God's loving arms are 
about us, and the penitent one is forgiven ere he has 
confessed his sins by word of mouth. The lost is 
found, and there is joy in heaven. 

The elder son was a picture of the Pharisees, who 
had served God in a slavish sort of way. They were 
jealous of the publicans and sinners, and would not 
share in the same feasts with them. These men, like 
the elder son, looked for reward for their services, 
while the truly repentant sinner is willing to give up 



260 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

all worldly honors, and to take the place of a servant, 
if God will only take pity on him and forgive him; 
and he is welcomed as a child of God, and there is 
joy in heaven. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

PAEABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD — DIVES AND LAZ- 
ARUS — THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM — IS IT 
LAWFUL? — SUFFER THE LITTLE ONES TO COME 
UNTO ME — THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. 

Jesus spoke other parables, and this one of the 
unjust steward was directed more particularly to the 
disciples, and to those who believed in Jesus, and was 
to warn them against the sin of self -righteousness. 
He said, "There was a certain rich man who had a 
steward, who took care of all his possessions, and the 
same was accused of having wasted his property. 
And he called him, and said unto him, 'What is this 
that I hear of thee % Give an account of thy steward- 
ship ; for thou canst no longer be a steward.' And 
the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do, if 
my lord taketh away the stewardship from me ? 1 can- 
not dig ; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what 
to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, 
they may receive me into their houses.' 

"So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto 
him, and he said unto the first, 'How much owest 
thou unto my lord ? ' And he said, 'A hundred meas- 
ures of oil.' And he said unto him, ' Take thy bill, 
and sit down and write fifty.' Then said he to an- 
other, 'And how much owest thou?' And he said, 'A 
hundred measures of wheat.' And he saith unto him, 
'Take thy bill, and write fourscore.' And the lord 
commended the unjust steward because he had done 



PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD. 261 

wisely ; for the children of this world are wiser than 
the children of the light. 

"And I say nnto yon, make to yourselves friends 
of the Mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye 
shall fail, they may receive yon into everlasting hab- 




THE UNJUST STEWARD. 

itations. He that is faithful in that which is least is 
faithful also in mnch ; and he that is nnjnst, or 
unrighteous, in the least, is unrighteous also in much. 
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unright- 
eous Mammon, ,who will commit to your trust the true 
riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that 



262 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

which is another's, who will give you that which is 
your own ? No servant can serve two masters : for 
either ye will hate the one, and love the other ; or 
else ye will cleave to one and despise the other. Ye 
cannot serve God and Mammon." 

Mammon means worldly wealth. The riches we 
possess do not belong to us, but we hold them in 
trust, and must give an account of the manner in 
which they are spent. The owner of a large estate 
has to have a steward in whom he can place confi- 
dence. The steward collects his rents, sells goods, 
signs all the bills, and handles all the money. This 
one in the parable being proved dishonest, still fur- 
ther cheats his employer by cutting down the bills of 
those who had bought goods and had not paid for 
them. His master found out the trick, but praised 
the steward for his shrewdness. 

Christians must be faithful to their trust, and make 
a wise use of their wealth and all their powers, not 
that they may gain earthly friends who live in fine 
houses, but that they may make friends with the 
saints above, and secure an entrance in the heavenly 
home. 

The Pharisees, who were great lovers of money, 
heard all these things ; and they mocked at Jesus, 
with words and gestures. And he said unto them, 
" Ye are they that justify yourselves before men; 
but God knoweth your hearts. For that which is 
highly esteemed in the sight of men, is abomination 
in the sight of God. 

"The law and the prophets were until John the 
Baptist came, who brought the good tidings of the 
kingdom of God, and every man forceth his way into 
it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than 
for one mite of the law to fail." 

The Pharisees pretended to be very strict in keep- 
ing the law, but though men might think them pure 



DIVES AND LAZARUS. 263 

and good, God knew that they broke the law every 
day of their lives. They were harsh in their judg- 
ments of publicans and sinners, while their own con- 
duct was that of the worst. Their selfishness and 
hypocrisy were known to Jesus and he taught them, 
in the parable of Dives and Lazarus, the danger they 
were in if they loved the riches of this world too well. 
He said to them : 

"Now there was a certain rich man, who was 
clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sump- 
tuously every day. And a certain beggar named 
Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores. He 
longed to be filled with the crumbs that fell from 
the rich man's table, food that could well have been 
spared and cost nothing, but he was left to himself, 
and to add to his misery, even the dogs came and 
licked his sores. 

And it came to pass that the begger died, and was 
borne away by the angels into Abraham's bosom ; 
and the rich man also died, and was buried. And 
in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and 
seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom; 
he cried and said, 'Father Abraham have mercy 
on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of 
his finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for I am 
in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, 
remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy 
good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: 
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.' 
And besides all this, between us and you there is 
a great gulf fixed; so that they who wish to pass 
from hence to you may not be able ; nor can any 
cross to us from thence. 

"Then he said, 'I pray thee therefore, Father Abra- 
ham, that thou wouldest send him to my father's 
house — for I have five brethren — that he may testify 
unto them, lest they also come to this place of tor- 



264 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

ment.' But Abraham saith iinto him, 'They have 
Moses and the prophets ; let them hear them.' And 
he said, 'Nay, Father Abraham ; but if one go to 
them from the dead, they will repent.' And he said 
'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, they will 
not be persuaded, even though one rise from the 
dead.' " 

The Jews spoke of the happy state after death 
as "Abraham's bosom," for they supposed that 
because they were the heirs of Abraham, they 
would be received into the home above, and richly 
blessed. But Jesus taught them that one man was 
no better than another in the sight of God, and 
that the rich Jew was worse off than the poorest 
beggar at his gate. God would judge a man by his 
own conduct. It is no sin to be rich ; but it is a 
sin to use our wealth for our own seliish enjoy- 
ment, and to neglect opportunities for doing good 
that are brought to our very doors. While here on 
earth we must make preparations for heaven, nor 
leave it until too late. No one can come back to 
warn those who are going the downward road. Those 
who do not hear God speak, who do not strive to 
obey his commands, will not listen to any message 
from the other world. They are wrapped up in sin 
and self. 

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom 
of God should come, he answered them and said, 
' ' The kingdom of God — the presence of the Messiah — 
cometh not when men are looking for it. Neither 
shall they say, ' Lo here ! or Lo there V For lo, the 
kingdom of God is within you." The king was with 
them, and his kingdom was in the hearts of men. 

And he said to his disciples : ' ' The days will come 
when ye shall desire to see one of the days of 
the Son of Man, and ye shall not see it. They 
would long for the presence of Jesus, but he would 




THE RICH MAN AND THE BEGGAR. 



THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM. 267 

not be with them. "And they shall say to yon, ' Lo 
here ! or Lo there ! ' bnt be not led away by them, 
nor follow after them. For as sudden and dazzling 
as the lightning that flashes along the sky, so shall 
the coining of the Son of Man be." 

Bnt first he mnst suffer many things, and be 
rejected of this generation. As it was in the days of 
Noah, even so shall it also be in the days of the Son 
of Man. They ate, they drank, they married, and 
were given in marriage nntil the day that Noah 
entered into the ark, and the flood came and des- 
troyed them all. After the same manner was it in 
the days of Lot ; they ate, they drank, they bought, 
they sold, they planted, they bnilded. Bnt the day 
that Lot went ont of Sodom it rained fire and brim- 
stone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so 
shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 
In that day they were to give np all earthly posses- 
sions, nor look back with regret upon the pleasures 
of the world, lest they be punished as was Lot's wife. 
Christians are to give up all for Christ ; to be useful 
workers, seasoning their words and deeds with Gospel 
salt. Seek Christ, hold on, and look not back. 

"Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose 
it ; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." 
Whosoever thinks more of himself and of this life 
than he does of Christ, shall lose the joy of a heavenly 
life. 

Jesus spoke of the separations that would take 
place between the faithful and the unfaithful at the 
end of the world, and the Pharisees, anxious to know 
the time and xuace, cried out, "Where, Lord?" And 
he said unto them, ' ' Where the body is, there will the 
eagles also be gathered together. ' ' They were not to 
be led astray by any false prophets, but to watch for 
his coming, and be always ready, for over the whole 
world would the angels wing their flight and 



268 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

bear away those whose names were in the Book of 
Life. 

Jesus spoke a parable to his disciples, to show that 
they ought always to pray, and not grow faint or 
discouraged. He said : " There was in a city a judge, 
who feared not God, and regarded not man. And 
there was a widow in that city ; and she came oft 
unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary." She 
had been wronged, and asked for justice. The judge 
paid no attention to her for some time ; but afterward 
he said to himself, " Though I fear not God nor regard 
man, yet because this widow troubleth me I will 
avenge her, lest by her continual coming she wear 
me out." 

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous 
Judge saith ! And if one can plead with such a man 
and gain their ends, will not God, who is not an un 
just Judge, hear and answer his own, who cry to him 
day and night, though he is long-suffering on their 
behalf \ I say unto you that he will avenge them 
speedily." All our wrongs will be made right, in 
God's good time. '-Nevertheless when the Son of 
Man cometh, shall he find faith on earth % ' ' Our faith 
is shown by our continuance in prayer. Up to the 
last hour of life we need to pray to him who has 
promised to be with us always, even unto the end of 
the world. He will save all those who come unto 
him. 

Jesus spoke another parable, and this was to those 
who were self-righteous, and thought themselves far 
superior to other men. They were Pharisees in spirit 
although they did not belong to that class. And he 
said to them : ' ' Two men went up into the temple to 
pray ; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 
The Pharisee stood up in front of every one else, and 
prayed, " God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest 
of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as 



IS IT LAWFUL? 269 

this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes 
of all my gains." 

The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up 
so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 
his breast, saying, " God be merciful to me, a sinner !" 
I say unto you this man went down to his house justi- 
fied rather than the other ; for every one that exalteth 
himself shall be humbled ; but he that humbleth him- 
self shall be exalted." When we come before God, 
we must come in a reverent mood, not pleading our 
own merits, for we are sinful creatures, but asking 
God to forgive us for the sake of his son, Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 

The Pharisees followed Jesus, not from any love 
to him, but to see if they could not tangle him in his 
talk, and put a stop to his preaching. Their question 
"Is it lawful?" had brought forth sharp answers, 
and in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican 
they saw their own likeness. Many of the Jews held 
the marriage bond very lightly, and if they got tired 
of one wife would put her away and take another, 
with no thought that they were breaking the seventh 
commandment. Jesus told them that God meant by 
this law that men should lead chaste lives, and be 
true to the wife they had sworn to love and to cherish. 

When it became known that Jesus was about to 
leave Perea, the mothers brought their young children 
to him that he might lay his hands upon them and 
bless them. But when the disciples saw it they 
rebuked them, and tried to turn them away. But 
Jesus called them unto him, saying, ' i Suffer little 
children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for 
of such is the kingdom of heaven. Verily I say unto 
you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of 
God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." 

They were not to be harsh in their treatment of 
each other. Christians were to be as one family, 



270 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

every man and woman being their brother and sister. 
Jesns said, "If thy brother sin against thee, go and 
tell him of his fault when you and he are alone. If 
he listen to thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But 
if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, 
that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every 
word may be established. If he refuse to hear them, 
tell it to the church ; and if he refuse to hear the 
church, look upon him as no Christian, and have no 
fellowship with him. Verily I say unto you, what 
things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound 
in heaven ; and what things soever ye shall loose on 
earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Those who made 
up the church of Christ on earth, were to decide who 
should be received into their communion, and fellow- 
ship. "Again I say unto you," said Jesus, "that if 
two or three agree on earth as touching anything that 
they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my 
Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are 
gathered together in my name, there am I in the 
midst of them." 

Then came Peter and said to him, " Lord, how oft 
shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him % 
until seven times?" Jesus saith unto him, "I say 
not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy 
times seven. 

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto 
a certain king who wished to make a reckoning with 
his servants. And when he had began to reckon, 
one was brought him who owed him ten thousand 
talents. But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to 
pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his 
wife, and children, and all that he had, and the pay- 
ment to be made. 

"The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped 
him, saying, lord, have patience with me, and I will 
pay thee all. And the lord of that servant being 




HE PUT HIS HANDS UPON THEM AND BLESSED THEM. 



BETHANY. 273 

moved with compassion, released him and forgave 
him the debt. But that same servant went out, and 
found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a 
hundred pence ; and he laid hands on him, and took 
him by the throat, saying, ' Pay me what thou owest 
me.' And his fellow-servant fell down, and plead 
with him, saying, ' Have patience with me, and I will 
pay thee.' And he would not ; but went and cast 
him into prison till he should pay that which was 
due. 

"So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, 
they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto 
their lord all that was done. Then his lord called 
him unto him, and said, ' Thou wicked servant ! I 
forgive thee all that debt because thou didst beseech 
me. Shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy 
fellow-servant even as I had mercy on thee \ ' and his 
lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors, 
till he should pay all that was due. So shall also 
my heavenly Father do unto you, if every one of 
you from your hearts forgive not your brother." 



CHAPTER XX. 



— JESUS GOES AGAIN TO PEREA — THE MASTER 
CALLETH THEE — LAZARUS IS RAISED FROM THE 
DEAD — THE HIGH PRIEST PROPHESIES — JESUS 
RETIRES TO THE CITY OF EPHRAIM. 

Bethany was a small village about three miles 
from Jerusalem. Sending the disciples on ahead, 
Jesus stopped at the house of Martha and her sister 
Mary, who, being people of wealth, were accustomed 
to entertaining many friends during the various 
feasts of the year. But this was no ordinary guest, 
and his coming made a great stir in the house. They 



274 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

felt honored by his presence, and anxious to show 
their hospitality, yet at the same time were awe- 
struck, as if they had an angel to entertain. 




MARY AND MARTHA. 



Martha had charge of the household, and flitted 
about here and there, through kitchen and court- 
yard, to see that all was as it should be, Her idea of 



"THE GOOD PART." 277 

homage was in placing before the guest the best there 
was in the honse. Household cares absorbed her. 

Not so with Mary. She forgot everything but that 
her Lord was in the house, and in his presence was 
joy and peace. She sat at his feet, and heard his 
word, and thought not of hunger or thirst, or life's 
daily cares. But Martha passing back and forth, 
and seeing Mary still sitting there, and doing noth- 
ing to help her, came in suddenly, and said, ' ' Lord 
dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to do 
the work alone % Bid her therefore come and help 
me." 

The Lord said unto her, "Martha, Martha, thou 
art anxious and troubled about many things ; but 
one thing is needful ; and Mary hath chosen that 
good part which shall not be taken away from her." 

There are restless Christians, and there are quiet 
Christians, both intent on doing their Lord's work, 
and honoring him by their service. But there is 
such a thing as overdoing. The. one thing needful 
is to have Jesus in the heart ; to love him well, and 
to show our love by doing good in quiet ways. 

It was now the Feast of the Dedication, and it was 
winter; and Jesus walked up and down in the 
temple courts, and through the colonnade at the east- 
ern end of the temple, which was known as Solo- 
mon's Porch. He was alone, and seeing this, his 
enemies, the Jews, clustered around him and said, 
" How long wilt thou keep us in doubt \ If thou art 
the Christ, tell us so plainly." Jesus answered 
them, ' ' I told you, and ye believe not. The works 
that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness 
concerning me. But ye believe not, because ye are 
not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I 
know them, and they follow me. And I give unto 
them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, 
neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand. 



• 



278 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

" My Father who gave them to me is greater than 
all ; and no one is able to pluck from the Father's 
hand. I and the Father are one. Then the Jews 
took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered 
them, " Many good works have I showed you from 
the Father ; for which of these works do ye stone 
me?" The Jews answered him, "For a good work 
we stone thee not ; but for blasphemy ; and because 
that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." Jesus 
answered them, "Is it not written in your law, ' I 
said, ye are gods ? ' If he called them gods, unto 
whom the word of God came, and the Scripture 
cannot be broken ; say ye of him whom the Father 
hath consecrated, and sent into the world, ' Thou blas- 
phemest ; ' because I said I am the Son of God % If I 
do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But 
if I do, even though ye believe not me, believe the 
works ; that ye may know and recognize that the 
Father is in me, and I in the Father." Therefore 
they sought again to seize him, but he slipped out of 
their hands, and went away beyond the Jordan to 
the place where John first baptised, and there he 
stayed, and many came to him ; and they said, 
" John did no sign ; but all things whatsoever John 
spake of this man were true." And many believed 
in him there. 

Among his hearers was a young man of great 
wealth. And he, running up to Jesus, threw himself 
at his feet, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do 
to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said unto him, 
' ' Why callest thou me good \ There is none good 
but one, and that is God. Thou knowest the com- 
mandments. Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, 
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy 
father and thy mother." 

The young ruler said, "All these things have I 
kept from my youth up." And when Jesus heard it, 



JESUS GOES AGAIN TO PEREA. 279 

he said unto Mm, " One thing thou lackest yet : Sell 
all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and 
thou shalt have treasure in heaven ; and come, follow 
me." But when the young ruler heard this he was 
exceeding sorrowful : for he was very rich. And 
Jesus seeing him said, "How hardly shall they that 
have riches enter into the kingdom of God ! For it is 
easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than 
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." 
And they that heard it, said, " Then who can be 
saved?" Jesus said, "The things which are impos- 
sible with men are possible with God." 

The "needle's eye " was the small gate in the wall 
of the city, through which the people passed to and 
fro. It would be almost impossible to get a camel 
through it, even though he knelt very low and was 
quite free from baggage. But rich men may be good 
Christians by using their wealth wisely, serving 
Christ with it, doing all the good they can, and being 
worthy and humble followers of our Lord. They are 
to give up all that make them worldly minded. The 
poor are rich if they have Christ. 

Then spoke up Peter, and said, " Lo, we have left 
all, and followed thee ; what then shall we have \ ' ' 
Jesus said unto them, ' ' Verily I say unto you, that 
ye which followed me, in the New Time, when the 
Lord shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall 
sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of 
Israel." He meant that they were to share in the 
glories of his kingdom. 

"And every one," he said, "that hath left houses, 
or brethren, or sisters, or parents, or wife, or children, 
for my name' s sake, shall receive a hundredfold in 
this life, and shall be blest forever in the land above. 
But many that are first shall be last ; and the last 
shall be first." 

And he spoke a parable to them, saying, ' ' The 



280 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a house- 
holder, who went out early in the morning to hire 
laborers to work in his vineyard. And when he had 
agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent 
them into his vineyard. 

"And he went out at the third hour — about nine 
o'clock in the morning — and saw others standing in 
the market-place idle. And to them he said, ' Go ye 
also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will 
give you.' And they went their way. 

"Again he went out at the sixth and ninth hour, 
and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour — at 
five o'clock in the afternoon — he went out, and found 
others standing about the market-place. And he said 
unto them, ' Why stand ye here all the day idle ? ' 
They say unto him, ' Because no man hired us.' He 
saith unto them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard.' 
And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard 
said unto his steward, ' Call the laborers and pay them 
their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.' 

"And when they came that were hired about the 
eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 
But when the first came, they supposed that they 
would receive more; and they likewise received every 
man a penny. And when they received it, they mur- 
mured against the householder, saying, 'These last 
have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them 
equal with us who have borne the burden and heat of 
the day.' 

"But he answered, and to one of them said, 
' Friend, I did thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree 
with me for a penny ? Take up that which is thine, 
and go thy way. It is my w T ill to give unto the last, 
even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what 
I will with mine own ? Or is thine eye evil, because 
I am good ? So the last shall be first, and the first 
last ; for many be called bat few chosen.' 



THE MASTER CALLETH THEE. 281 

There is always work to do in Our Lord's vine- 
yard, and we are to toil with unselfish hearts, and 
without thought of gain. He has promised to give 
us our day's wages ; and whether we begin to serve 
him in our youth, or in old age, or near the hour 
of death, we all share in the same reward, and be 
received into the blessed home above. We are not 
to be envious of God's kindness to those who seem 
undeserving. He knows best ; and the humble and 
faithful Christian will have a higher place m 
heaven, than those who boast of how much they 
have done for Jesus, and value their services very 
highly. 

Whilst Jesus was living in retirement, and preach- 
ing near the fords of the Jordan, Lazarus, the 
brother of Martha and Mary was taken very sick. 
The sisters therefore sent unto Jesus, saying, "Lord, 
behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." When Jesus 
heard that, he said to the messenger, " This sickness 
is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the 
Son of God may be glorified thereby." 

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Laz- 
arus, yet when he heard of his sickness, he remained 
in the place where he was for two days. Then after 
that he saith to the disciples, "Let us go into 
Judea again." The disciples say unto him, " Rabbi, 
the Jews of late sought to stone thee ; and goest 
thou thither again?" Jesus answered, "Are there 
not twelve hours of the day ? If a man walk in the 
day, he stumbleth not, because he sees the light of 
the world. But if a man walk in the night, he 
stumbleth, because there is no light in him." These 
things said he ; and after that he saith unto them, 
"Our friend Lazarus hath fallen asleep; but I go 
that I may awake him out of sleep." 

The disciples said unto him, "Lord, if he hath 
fallen asleep he shall do well." Howbeit Jesus had 



282 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

spoken of his death ; but they thought that he spoke 
of taking rest in sleep. 

Then therefore Jesus said unto them plainly, 
" Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes 
and for the increase of your faith, that I was not 
there. Nevertheless let us go unto him." Thomas 
therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow- 
disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with 
him." They all knew that Jesus went into Judea 
again at the risk of his life. He must not go alone. 
They would follow him, and share his faith. 

When therefore Jesus came to the home of Martha 
and Mary, he found that Lazarus was dead, and had 
lain in the tomb four days already. The rich had 
tombs of their own in their private gardens. They 
were usually cut out of the solid rock, and the body 
after being first anointed with spices, and afterwards 
with fragrant oils, was wrapped in white clothes and 
laid in the niche or vault without any coffin. 

Now Bethany was but a short distance from Jeru- 
salem, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and 
Mary to comfort them for the loss of their brother. 
Martha, therefore as soon as she heard that Jesus 
was coming, went and met him ; but Mary sat still in 
the house. Martha therefore said unto Jesus, " Lord, 
if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 
But even now I know that whatsoever things thou 
shalt ask of God, he will give to thee." 

Jesus saith unto her, ' ' Thy brother shall rise 
again." Martha said unto him, "I know that he 
shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 
Jesus said unto her, " I am the resurrection, and the 
life ; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, 
yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believ- 
eth in me shall never die. Believest thou this ? " She 
saith unto him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that thou art 
the Christ the Son of God, he that cometh into the 



LAZARUS IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. 283 

world." And when she had spoken thns, she went 
away, and called Mary, her sister, saying secretly, 
"The Master has come and calleth thee." 

As soon as Mary heard that she arose qnickly, and 
went to where he was. Now Jesns had not come into 
the village, but was still at at the place where Mar- 
tha met him. The Jews, therefore, who were with 
her in the house, comforting her, when they saw that 
Mary rose up hastily and went out, followed her, sup- 
posing that she had gone to weep at the tomb of her 
brother. 

When Mary came where Jesus was, and saw him, 
she fell at his feet, saying unto him, " Lord, if thou 
hadst been here, my brother had not died." When 
Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews 
lamenting wnich came with her, he was moved and 
troubled in spirit, and he said, " Where have ye laid 
him % " They said unto him, "Lord, come and see." 

Jesus wept. 

The Jews therefore said, " Behold how he loved 
him ! " But some of them said, "Could not this man 
who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have 
caused that this man also should not die?" Jesus 
therefore moved with, indignation in himself, cometh 
to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay 
against it. Jesus saith, "Take away the stone." 
Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said unto 
him, "Lord, by this time he is not lit to be seen, 
for he hath been four days here." Jesus saith unto 
her, " Said I not unto thee, that if thou didst 
believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God ? ' ' 

They took away the stone therefore. And Jesus 
lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank 
thee that thou didst hear me. I myself knew that 
thou nearest me always, but because of the multitude 
standing around, I said it, that they may believe that 
thou didst send me." And when he had thus spoken, 



284 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

he cried with a loud voice ; "Lazarus, come forth ! " 
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and 
foot in his grave clothes, and his face was wrapped in 
a napkin. Jesus said unto them, "Loose him, and 
let him go." « 

Many therefore of the Jews, they which came to 
Mary and beheld the things which Jesus did, believed 
in him. But some of them went away to the Phari- 
sees and told them what things Jesus had done. 
The chief priests and Pharisees therefore gathered 
together and said: "What are we to do? for this 
man doeth many wonderful things. If we let him 
thus alone, all men will believe in him, and the 
Romans will come and take away both our place and 
our nation." 

But a certain one of the Sanhedrin, named Caia- 
phas, being high priest of that year, said unto them : 
"Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is 
profitable for you that one man should die for the 
people, and the whole nation perish not." 

How selfish and cruel were these men ! The 
Pharisees said, "If we let him alone, he will bring 
us to ruin." The high priest answered, " Save your- 
selves and let him perish!" But this spake he not 
of himself ; but being high priest of that year, he 
prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation 
and not for the nation only, but that he might gather 
into one the children of God that were scattered 
abroad. In spite of himself, this high priest pro- 
claimed God's will, and prophesied against Israel. 
And it was the last of the high priesthood among 
the Jews, for he was proved to be a false prophet. 

From that day forth, therefore, they took counsel 
that they might put him to death. Jesus therefore 
walked no more openly among the Jews ; but went 
away from thence into the country near to the wilder- 
ness, unto a city called Ephraim, and there abode 




RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS, 



ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM, 287 

with the disciples. And the passover of the Jews 
was nigh at hand, and many went up to Jerusalem 
out of the country, before the passover, to purify 
themselves. If any man had in any way broken the 
laws of Moses, he would have to go before the priests 
and perform certain rites, in order to be made tit to 
take part in the passover feast. 

These pilgrims were friends of Jesus and hoped to 
find him in Jerusalem. They sought him therefore, 
but failed to see him, and spake among themselves, 
as they stood in the temple courts, "Do ye think 
that he will not come to the feast \ ' ' Now the chief 
priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if 
any man knew where he were, he should let it be 
known, that they might seize him. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

ON THE WAY TO JERUSALEM — THE TEN LEPERS — THE 
SONS OF ZEBEDEE — JERICHO — ZACC1IEUS — BLIND 
BARTIMEUS — PARABLE OF THE TEN POUNDS — 
THE FEAST AT BETHANY — MARY'S OFFERING — 
THE RAGE OF JUDAS. 

The time had now come for Jesns to leave his 
place of retirement, and to join the pilgrim band that 
wended its way toward Jerusalem, to the passover 
feast. He passed along the border of Samaria, to a 
place in Galilee, and as he drew near one of the 
villages there met him ten men, who were lepers. 
Shut out from their homes and the haunts of men 
because of their loathsome disease, they sat in this 
lonely place outside of the town walls, begging for 
money with which to buy their daily bread. 

They had heard of Jesus, and knew what great 
things he had done, and when they saw him coming 
toward them, even while yet he was a great way off, 



288 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

they lifted up their voices, and cried out, "Jesus, 
Master, have mercy onus!" Attracted by their cry, 
Jesus turned toward them, and said, ' ' Gfo and show 
yourselves unto the priests." This he said to test 
their faith. And they obeyed him, and as they were 
going on the way they were cured of the terrible dis- 
ease. 

One of them, when he found that he was healed, 
turned back, glorifying God, with a heart filled with 
love and gratitude, and he fell down on his face at 
the feet of Jesus ; and he was a Samaritan. It is 
supposed that the other nine were Galileans, and as 
ungrateful as were all the Jews who lived near 
our Lord's home. Willing to receive all favors at 
his hands, they yet turned their hearts against 
him. They had no love for him. 

This saddened Jesus, and he said to the grateful 
leper, ' • Were there not ten cleansed ? Where 
then are the nine? Were there none found that 
returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?" 
And he said to the man, ' ' Arise, and go thy way ; 
thy faith hath saved thee." 

Are we thankful for all that Jesus has done for 
us % or do we take everything as a matter of course, 
and go on our way without a thought of him. 

As Jesus walked on, he led the twelve disciples 
away from the public road, and said unto them, 
"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. And the Son 
of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests 
and Scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 
and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles, to mock, 
and to scourge, and to crucify him, and on the 
third day he shall be raised up." 

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's 
children, with her sons, James and John, salut- 
ing him with reverence, as she had a great favor 
to ask him. 



THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE. 289 

He said unto her, "What is thy wish?" She 
saith unto him, " Grant that these my two sons 
may sit, the one on thy right hand and the other 
on thy left, in thy kingdom." But Jesus answered 
and said, ' ' Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able 
to drink the cup that I shall drink of, and to be 
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with." 

He was on his way to suffering and death. Were 
they able to endure the agony of soul, and the ter- 
rible death that was his portion \ 

In their ignorance they answered, " We are able." 
He saith unto them, "The cup that I drink ye 
shall drink, but to sit on my right hand and on 
my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for them 
for whom it hath been prepared by my Father." 

Both of these apostles suffered for the cause of 
Christ, and in this way drank the cup that he 
drank of. 

When the other ten heard of the request they had 
made of Jesus, they were sore displeased with James 
and John. Why should they claim any higher place 
than the rest ? They were hot with rage and jeal- 
ousy. And Jesus called them to him and said, 
' ' Ye know that they which are set to rule over 
the Gentiles exercise lordship over them ; and 
their great ones exercise authority over them. But 
it is not so with you ; but whosoever would become 
great among you shall be your minister ; and who- 
soever would be first among you shall be servant of 
all. For even the Son of Man came not to be minis- 
tered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a 
ransom for many." 

A ransom was the price paid for the life of a slave, 
or to redeem a prisoner from captivity. Jesus laid 
down his life to save the world from the guilt and 
power of sin. With his precious blood the bond was, 
sealed. He is our Redeemer. 



290 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

The twelve who were near him were amazed to see 
how calm and brave Jesus was, leading the multi- 
tude all the way, and seemingly eager to reach Jeru- 
salem, whilst those who followed afar off, were 
afraid, not knowing what might happen. 

They had to pass through Jericho, which at this 
season of the year, the early spring, was a paradise 
of bloom. It was protected by walls, flanked by 
four forts. The palace and the royal gardens were 
gems of beauty, in which nature vied with art. All 
around were groves of feathery palms, and here and 
there stretched gardens of roses, and large planta- 
tions of sweet-scented shrubs, so that the whole ail 
was filled with perfume. It was at one time known 
as the " City of Palms," and had always been an 
important trading-place, standing as it did on the 
great caravan road from Arabia and Damascus. The 
streets were filled with a motley crowd of men, 
women, and children, and when it was noised about 
that a pilgrim band was passing, and that the 
Prophet of Nazareth was with them, the road soon 
was lined with people, and there was much pushing 
and crowding. 

There was a man in Jericho, named Zaccheus. He 
was a Jew, and at the head of the tax department. He 
had heard of Jesus, and had a desire to see him, but 
could not because of the crowd, for he was a short 
man. This only increased his anxiety, so he ran on 
ahead of the crowd, and climbed up into a sycamore 
tree, so that he might see Jesus, for he was to pass 
that way. 

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up 
and saw him, and said unto him, "Zaccheus, make 
haste, and come dnwn : for to-day I must lodge at 
thy house." 

Think of it ! The little man so hidden by the 
crowd that he had to climb a tree, was singled out 




JESUS AND ZACCJLEUS. 



ZACCHEUS. 293 

and spoken to thus publicly ! How did Jesus know 
his name \ All a-tremble with a strange joy, Zao 
cheus did as he was bidden, and came down in great 
haste, and joyfully led the way to his house. At 
this the crowd murmured greatly, because Jesus was 
going to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. 

Zaccheus, having Jesus in his house — that is 
literally, in Ms lieart — was sorry for the deeds of 
his past life. And standing forth, he said unto the 
Lord: "Behold, Lord, the half of all my goods I 
will give to the poor ; and if I have wrongfully 
taken anything from any man, I will return it unto 
him fourfold." 

And Jesus said unto him, " To-day is salvation, 
come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of 
Abraham." His faith was as great as that of Abra- 
ham, and he had been brought into the true fold. 
He was no longer a "lost sheep," for Jesus had 
found him, and he was safe forever. 

In the morning Jesus resumed his journey, and 
the crowd continued to follow him. 

And as they passed out of Jericho, they came near 
blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, who sat by the 
roadside begging. He could hear the tramp of 
many feet and the sound of many voices, and when 
he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he 
cried out, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on 
me ! ' ' Many rebuked him, and told him to hold his 
peace, but he cried all the more loudly, "Thou son 
of David, have mercy on me ! " 

And Jesus stood still, and commanded the blind 
man to be called. Those who had kept him back 
were bidden to bring him forward. 

And they went to the blind man and said, "Be of 
good cheer, arise, for he calleth thee." And he, 
casting away his garment, arose and came to Jesus. 
And Jesus said unto him, "What wilt thou that I 



294 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

should do unto thee?" And the blind man said, 
"Lord, that I may receive my sight." And Jesus 
said unto him, " Go thy way ; thy faith hath made 
thee whole." And straightway he received his sight, 
and followed Jesus, giving praise to God. And all 
the people, when they saw the miracle that had been 
done, gave praise unto God. 

The nearer they came to Jerusalem, the nearer the 
disciples, and those with them, thought they were to 
the kingdom of God. There in that holy city, he 
who claimed to be the Christ, and did such wonder- 
ful things, would set up his throne and reign as king 
over Israel. And those who had left all to f oIIoav 
him, would have high rank and favor ; for so it was 
among earthly kings. 

Jesus knew their thoughts, and therefore he said 
to them, v "A certain nobleman went into a far 
country to receive for himself a kingdom, and then 
to return. And he called his ten servants, and gave 
them ten pounds, and said unto them, ' Trade with 
this till I come.' But his fellow-citizens hated him, 
and sent messengers after him saying, ' We will not 
have this man rule over us.' 

"And it came to pass, when he came back again, 
having received the kingdom, that he commanded 
these servants to be called unto him, to whom he 
had given the money, that he might know what 
they had gained by trading. And the first came 
before him, saying, ' Lord, thy pound hath gained 
ten pounds more.' And he said unto him, 'Well 
done, thou good servant, because thou hast been 
faithful in a very little, thou shalt have authority 
over ten cities.' 

"And the second came, saying, ' Lord, thy pound 
hath made five pounds.' And he said to him, also, 
'Be thou over rive cities.' And another came, say- 
ing, ' Lord, behold, here is thy pound which I kept 



PARABLE OF THE TEN POUNDS. 295 

laid up in a napkin. For I was afraid of thee, 
because thou art a hard master ; thou takest up 
what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what 
thou didst not sow.' 

"He saith unto him, 'Out of thine own mouth 
will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. If thou 
knewest that I was a hard man, why didst thou 
not put my money in the bank, that at my coming 
I might have drawn it from there, with interest.' 
And he said unto those that stood by, ' Take away 
from him the pound, and give it to him that hath 
the ten pounds. For I say unto you, that unto 
every one who hath, more shall be given ; and 
from him who hath not, even what he hath shall 
be taken away from him. But these, mine enemies, 
who would not that I should reign over them, bring- 
hither, and slay them before me.' " 

Jesus was going away to a far country* and his 
servants — his disciples— were to spend the time he 
was away in preaching his gospel, in making his 
truths better known in the world. Those who did 
not add to the gift of the Holy Spirit, did not 
work for the cause of Christ, were not good and 
faithful servants. 

Those who do nothing for Jesus because they 
are afraid of doing the wrong thing, are wicked 
cowards, and not worthy the name of Christians. 
He will forgive our mistakes ; and oh, what a blessed 
reward it will be to hear his voice saying unto us, 
" Well done, thou good and faithful servant ! " 

Jesus arrived at Bethany on Friday, six days 
before the beginning of the Paschal Feast, as it 
was sometimes called. The lamb used on that 
occasion was known as the Paschal lamb. 

The pilgrim band went on its way to Jerusalem, 
many of them to visit among friends, Avhile others 
would build the booths in which they were to lodge 



296 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

during the feast. Jesus parted from them, and 
went to the house of Martha and Mary to spend 
a few days in rest and quiet with these beloved 
friends. 

On the evening of the Sabbath they made a feast 
for him, at which Martha served. It was at the 
house of one Simon, whom Jesus had cured of 
leprosy, and Lazarus, whom he had raised from the 
dead, sat at the same table with him. 

What was there for Mary to do ? Martha did not 
need her services, and for awhile she sat lost in 
thought. In what way should she show her grati- 
tude to him whom she worshiped, and who had 
saved her brother from death % 

She had an alabaster vase of oil made from the 
genuine spikenard, which was very precious. It 
could not have been bought for less than thirty 
dollars, and this was a great sum in those days. 

But Mary did not think of the price. It was not 
too rich a gift for her Lord and Master, the chief 
guest in the house. 

Stepping softly behind him, she broke the alabaster 
vase and poured the oil on the feet of Jesus, wiping 
them with the tresses of her hair. And the whole 
house was filled with the odor of the precious oint- 
ment. 

Now there was one at the table who thought such 
a use of costly things was a great waste. This was 
Judas Iscariot, who was so soon to betray the Lord, 
whom he pretended to love. And he said aloud, 
" Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred 
pence and given to the poor \ " This he said, not that 
he cared for the poor ; but because he was a thief, 
and having the box, could carry off all that was put 
therein. 

Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, for against 
the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the 



THE RAGE OF JUDAS. 2<# 

poor ye have always with you ; but me ye have not 
always." 

Mary had kept the flask for a long time, and for 
some special use. The hour had now come. The 
person worthy of such a gift was here. What better 
use could she make of the precious oil than to pour 
it at the feet of Jesus. 

The alabaster vase is a symbol of the loving heart. 
Broken at Jesus' s feet, it gives out all its sweetness, 
and the house is filled with the fragrance of a Chris- 
tian life. 

Jesus said, "Wheresoever this gospel shall be 
preached in the whole world, that also which this 
woman did shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." 

Judas was in a great rage, and from that hour gave 
himself over to Satan. 

These two, Mary and Judas, are brought together 
to show the strong contrasts in life. One gives all 
she has — becomes poor for Jesus' s sake— and is made 
rich forever. Another seeks the wealth of this 
world, sells his soul to Satan, and walks forever 
among the spirits of darkness. 

What a memorial he has left. Truly "A good 
name is more to be desired than great riches." 



298 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

BETHPAGE — THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM — PALM SUN- 
DAY — HOSSANA — THE BOYS IN THE TEMPLE — 
THE BARREN FIG-TREE — WHO GAVE THEM 
AUTHORITY ? — THE TWO SONS — THE WICKED 
HUSBANDMEN — THE CHIEF CORNER STONE — 
"SHALL WE PAY TRIBUTE TO CAESAR?" — 
JESUS NEAR THE TREASURY — THE POOR WIDOW 
— THE SADDUCEES ASK QUESTIONS — JESUS BIDS 
FAREWELL TO THE TEMPLE. 

The time had now come for Jesus to enter Jeru- 
salem as King of the Jews ; and on a bright spring 
day he set out for the last time from Bethany. 
When he drew near to Bethpage, to the mount that 
is called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the dis- 
ciples, Peter and John, saying, " Go ye into yonder 
village, and there ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt 
with her, on which no man has ever sat. Loose the 
colt and bring him to me ; and if any one ask you, 
' Why do ye loose him % ' say, ' The Lord hath need 
of him.' " 

Then Peter and John went away and as they came 
to Bethpage, they saw near a doorway the colt tied 
to its mother. And as they were loosing the colt the 
owners came, and asked why they were taking the 
colt away, And they said, ' ' Because the Lord hath 
need of him." And they brought him to Jesus, and 
throwing their outer robes upon the colt, they sat 
Jesus thereon. 

Only the rich could afford camels, and horses were 
only used for going to war ; but hardly any man 
in the East was too poor to keep a mule, on which 



THE ENTR V INTO JER U SALEM. 



299 



to ride to visit his friends, or to go into the city. 
Jesus, riding on the young ass, gave token in this 
way of his poverty, and that he came on an errand 
of peace. 
Meanwhile, word had been carried into the city 




THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. 



that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to proclaim 
himself King of the Jews, and a great multitude 
went out to meet him. 

There were those from Galilee and Perea who had 
heard him preach, and seen his wonderful miracles. 



300 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Many of those who had been cured by him, were also 
among the crowd ; and with them came the Phari- 
sees with hearts full of bitter hatred and jealousy. 

On the way the crowd cut down the branches of 
the palm trees, such as were used at the Feast of the 
Tabernacles, and with shouts of joy, cried out, 
"Hosanna to the Son of David ! Blessed is he that 
cometh in the name of the Lord ! Peace in heaven, 
and glory in the highest ! " 

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said unto 
Jesus, "Rabbi, rebuke thy disciples." And he said, 
" I tell you that if these shall hold their peace, the 
stones will cry out ; ' ' meaning that the ruin of Jeru- 
salem would come sooner than it did. And the Phar- 
isees said to one another, ' ' See how ye prevail noth- 
ing. The whole world has gone mad after him." 

Slowly up the Mount of Olives, from the south- 
ward to the northward came the pilgrim band with 
Jesus at its head. As he drew nigh and beheld the 
city of Jerusalem, in all its glory of white and gold, 
his heart was moved with grief, and he gave way to a 
burst of sobs and tears. And he said, "If in this 
day even thou hadst known the things which belong 
to peace ! but now are they hid from thine eyes. 
For days shall come upon thee when thine enemies 
shall dig a trench about thee, and compass thee 
round, and shut thee in on every side. And shall 
dash to the ground thee and thy children ; and leave 
not one stone upon another ; because thou knewest 
not the time of thy visitation." 

All through the streets were heard the tramp, 
tramp of many feet, and the sound of many voices 
singing songs of praise and welcome as they passed 
out through the city gates. Men, women, and chil- 
dren thronged the housetops ; and some, who saw 
the excitement, and did not know what it was about 
inquired "Who is this?" And multitudes said, 




THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. 



THE BOYS IN THE TEMPLE. 303 

"This is the Prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in 
Galilee. " 

As Jesus entered the temple he looked around, 
thinking sadly of the time, three years before, when 
he had driven out those who sold oxen and doves in 
that sacred place. And all in vain. For here was 
the same state of things, the filth and noise, and 
buying and selling going on in God's house. The 
crowd pressed around him, but Jesus would do noth- 
ing until these evil things were driven out, and the 
temple cleansed. Then the sick, the lame, and the 
blind were brought to him, and he healed them. 

Meanwhile the children in the temple kept on 
singing, " Hosanna to the son of David," which 
vexed the chief priests and scribes, notwithstanding 
the miracles they had seen Jesus perform. And 
they said to him, "Hearest thou what these are say- 
ing?" Jesus saitn unto them, "Yes; did you never 
read, ' Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings 
thou hast perfected praise ? ' God puts it into the 
hearts of little children to praise his holy name.' 

In the temple were some from Greece that came 
up to worship at the feast. These came to Philip, 
who was of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and spoke to him, 
saying, " Sir, we would see Jesus." Philip cometh 
and telleth Andrew; and together they go and tell 
Jesus. And Jesus answereth them, saying, "The 
hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glori- 
fied. "Verily, verily, I say unto you except the grain 
of wheat fall into the ground and die, it has no 
growth ; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. 
He that loveth his life shall lose it ; and he that 
hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto 
life eternal. If any one serve me, let him follow 
me ; and where I am there shall also my servant be. 
If any one serve me, him will the Father honor. 
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? 



3C4 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Father, save me from this hour \ But for this cause 
came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. 
Thy will be done." 

Then there came a voice out of heaven, saying, 
" I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." 
Those who stood by and heard it, said that it thun- 
dered ; while others said, "An angel spoke to him." 
Jesus said, " Wot for my sake hath this voice come, 
but for yours. Now is there judgment of this 
world ; now shall the prince of this world be cast 
out. And I, if I be lifted up oil high, will draw 
all men unto me." This he said, signifying in 
what way he was to be put to death. 

The multitude therefore said to him, "We have 
heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for- 
ever ; how then say est thou, 'The Son of Man 
must be lifted up on high ? Who is this Son of 
Man?'" Jesus therefore said to them, " Yet a 
little while is the light with you. Walk while 
ye have the light, lest the darkness overtake you ; 
and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not 
whither he goeth. As ye have the light, believe 
in the light, that ye may become the sons of the 
light." 

Jesus himself was the light of the world, and 
those who walked with him would not stumble 
because of the darkness. 

There was a little while yet in which they might 
repent of their sins ; and after that they would 
miss the light of his presence, and understand 
many things that were now hidden from them. It 
was not safe for Jesus to remain in the city ; so, as 
the shades of evening drew, he and his disciples 
went oif on the Mount of Olives, toAvard Bethany, 
and in a quiet place slept peacefully under the 
trees. 

The next day, Monday, early in the morning, 



THE BARREN FIG-TREE. 307 

Jesus and the twelve set out on their return to 
Jerusalem. They were in need of food, and seeing 
a fig-tree from afar with leaves on it, Jesus 
came to it expecting to find it laden with fruit. 
But he found neither old nor new fruit on it, noth- 
ing but leaves ; for it was not the season of figs. 
Jesus said unto it, " No man shall eat fruit from 
thee any more forever." And his disciples heard it. 

The fig-tree was a type of the Jewish people. 
They were hypocrites. Their appearance of piety 
was all a pretence. Their outward ceremonials, were 
like the leaves that hid the nakedness of the barren 
fig-tree. They gave the promise of something that 
was not there. Had their hearts been right they 
would have felt their need of a Saviour, and would 
have shown the fruits of Christ's teachings among 
them. 

As the disciples were passing by the next morning, 
they noticed that the fig-tree was dried up from its 
very roots. And Peter, remembering, said unto 
Jesus, " Master, behold the fig-tree which, thou didst 
curse is withered away." Jesus said unto him, 
"Have faith in God. Verily I say unto you, whoso- 
ever shall say unto this mountain, ' Be thou taken up 
and cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his 
heart, but believe that what he saith cometh to pass, 
it shall be done. 

"All tilings whatsoever ye pray and ask for, 
believing that God at once answers your requests, ye 
shall have them." Having faith in God and love for 
their fellow-men, their prayers would not be selfish, 
and strength would be given them to do as great 
miracles as that of the fig-tree. 

As Jesus was walking through the porches of the 
temple on the second day of the passover week, 
there came unto him a number of the chief priests, 
Scribes, and elders, and said unto him, "By what 



308 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

authority doest tliou tliese things ? Who gave thee 
this authority V ' 

The Jews had to go through a regular course of 
study before they could become teachers, and had to 
go before the Sanhedrin to be ordained, that is, to 
receive full orders, and a license to teach, or to judge 
in courts of law. But this Jesus had not been before 
the Sanhedrin, and for that reason did they question 
him. Jesus said: "I will ask you one question. 
Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I 
do these things. The baptism of John, whence was 
it? from heaven or from men? answer me." And 
they reasoned with themselves, saying, ' i If we shall 
say from heaven, he will say, why then did you not 
believe in him ? but if we say from men, we fear the 
people, for all hold John as a prophet." And they 
answered Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus, who 
kneAv that they could tell if they chose to, said unto 
them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do 
these things." Then in words of love and warning, 
he said unto them, "There was a man who had two 
sons. And he came to the first and said, ' Child, go 
work to-day in the vineyard.' And he answered and 
said, ' I will not ;' but afterward he repented, and 
went. And he came to the second and said likewise. 
And he answered, ' I will go sir ;' and went not, 
which of the two did the will of his father?" They 
said, "The first." Jesus saith, "The publicans and 
sinners will go before you into the kingdom of God ; 
for John came preaching the way of repentance, 
and ye believed him not ; but the publicans believed, 
and are saved." 

The chief priests and elders, foiled in their attack, 
began to lay other plans for getting rid of this man. 
And Jesus, knowing their hearts, spoke to them a 
parable, saying, "A man puanted a vineyard, and 
set a hedge about it, and dug a pit for the wine- 



THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN. 309 

press, and built a tower, and let it out to husband- 
men, and then went into another country. When 
the grapes were ripe, he sent a servant to the hus- 
bandmen that he might receive the fruits of the vine- 
yard. And they took him and beat him and sent 
him away emx3ty handed. Again he sent unto them 
another servant ; and at him they cast stones, and 
wounded him in the head, and turned him out after 
treating him shamfully. And he sent another, and 
him they killed, and many others, beating some and 
killing some outright. 

' ' He had yet one, his well-beloved Son, and at 
last he sent him unto them, saying, ' They will 
reverence my Son.' But those husbandmen said 
among themselves, ' This is the heir ; come, let 
us kill him him, and the inheritance shall be 
ours.' And they took him, and cast him forth 
out of the vineyard, and slew him. When there- 
fore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will 
he do unto these husbandmen % ' ' They say unto 
him, "He will destroy those miserable men, and 
will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, 
who shall render him the fruits in their seasons." 

Jesus said, "Did ye never read in the Scrip- 
tures,* the stone which the builders rejected, has 
become the chief cornerstone? This is the Lord's 
doing, and is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore I 
say unto you, the kingdom of Grod shall be taken 
from you and given to a nation bringing forth the 
fruits thereof. And he that falleth on this stone 
shall be broken ; and on whomsoever it shall fall, 
it will grind him to powder." 

The corner stone is the chief stone of the found- 
ation, joining together two important walls. The 
siDiritual meaning of the parable is this : God is 



* Psalm cxviii. 



31 o THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Lord of the vineyard, which is the world. The 
fruits he wishes to gather are the souls of those 
who have repented of their sins. John the Bap- 
tist and others were sent to the Jews, but they 
had treated them shamefully, and some they had 
put to death. At last God sent his own Son into 
the world. Was he treated any better than the 
others % No, worse. And on that account the 
whole Jewish nation was to be destroyed, and 
Christ was to be given to those avIio would build 
up the real temple of God — which is built in the 
hearts of the people. All those who oppose Christ, 
shall be punished ; and those on whom his judg- 
ment falls, shall be scattered like chaff before the 
winds. That is, if they will not repent of their 
sins. 

By this time the chief priests and elders under- 
stood that the parable referred to them, and they 
were more than ever determined to kill him. This 
they dared not do openly, for they feared the 
people, but they sent out spies to watch his words, 
and try to entangle him in his talk. These spies, 
feigning to be righteous men, came to Jesus with 
flattering words, thinking to deceive him. And they 
asked him, saying, "Is it lawful for us to pay tribute 
unto Caesar, or not?" This was the same as asking, 



" Who is Israel's king ? " 



Jesus perceiving their craftiness, said unto them, 
"Show me a penny? Whose image and name is 
upon it?" They answered, "Caesar's." And he 
said unto them, "Therefore render unto Caesar the 
things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that 
are God's." It was right for the Jews to yield to 
the rule of Rome, and to pay the just tax. Not such 
wealth did God want. He says unto all of us, " Give 
me thine heart." It is all that Jesus asks in return 
for his loving kindness and tender mercy 



JESUS NEAR THE TREASURY. 



3i x 



Those who had come to entangle Jesus, were 
caught in their own net, and went away marveling 
greatly. Leaving those to whom he had been speak- 
ing in the porches, Jesus went up the night of steps 
which led to the temple, and opened into the court 
of the women. Here he sat down, watching the 
crowd. He also had a view of the treasury, a room 
in which were thirteen chests, with trumpet- shaped 




GIVE TO CAESAR THAT WHICH IS CAESAR'S. 



mouths, into which the people as they passed threw 
their gifts of money. Each chest, or box, was 
marked, so that those who put in their money 
could make it known whether it was to go to the 
poor, to pay for certain sacrifices, or buy incense, 
wood, or other things needed in the temple. 

Jesus watched the givers, and saw that many 
of the rich cast in a great deal of money that made a 
great noise. Presently there came a poor, lone widow, 



312 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

who shrank from the rich ones around her, and 
seemed ashamed of the small amount she had to 
give. 

It was only two mites that she held in her hand — 
the smallest Roman coins — each one of which was 
not equal to one cent of our money. But it was 
all she had been able to save from her hard earn- 
ings, and she would have to go hungry that day for 
lack of the food this money might buy. Not that 
she minded this, oh, no. So great was her love 
that she gave all she had cheerfully. 

Jesus saw her, and calling unto him his disciples, 
said, "This poor widow has cast in more than all 
they that are casting their gifts into the treasury. 
For they all did cast in what they could well spare — 
it cost them nothing ; but she, though in want 
herself, did cast in all the money she had." Then 
he and his disciples went out of the temple, to 
spend the night beyond the city wall. 

It was now Tuesday, the third day in what is 
known as Passion Week. And as Jesus entered 
the temple, there came to him certain of the Saddu- 
cees, who believed that when men died that was 
the end of them. And they asked him if, as the 
old Jewish law said, it was lawful for a man to 
marry his brother' s widow. And they told a story of 
a woman who had married seven brothers, and asked, 
with a sneer, whose wife she was to be in the 
resurrection. 

Jesus said there was no thought of marrying or 
giving in marriage in heaven, for through the power 
of God all who entered there were changed, and 
became as the angels were. They would have no 
earthly desires, the sins of the bodies would be 
washed away, but there would be soul-growth, and 
those whom we had known and loved on earth, with 
a holy love, Ave would know and love in heaven. 




THE WIDOW S MITE. 



THE SADDUCEES ASK QUESTIONS. 315 

"God," lie said, " is not a God of the dead, but of 
the living, for all live unto him." As the Sadducees 
did not believe in a life after death, there would be 
no place in heaven for them. 

To the words of Jesus they could make no reply ; 
the crowd itself was amazed at the way in which he 
had silenced them, and even one of the Scribes spoke 
out saying : "Teacher, thou hast well said ! " 

The Pharisees were pleased when they heard how 
he had silenced the Sadducees but it did not lessen 
their enmity toward Jesus. And one of the Scribes, 
a lawyer, asked him a question to test him, saying, 
' ' Master, what commandment is great in the law V ' 
And he said unto him, c ' Thou shalt love the Lord 
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, 
and with all thy mind. This is the first and great 
commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two 
commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 
Love to God and love to man was all the Bible 
taught from Moses to Malachi. 

While the Pharisees were gathered together, 
Jesus asked them, saying, "What think ye of 
Christ? Whose son is he?" They say unto him, 
"The son of David." "How then doth David in 
the spirit, call him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said 
unto my Lord, Sit thou upon my right hand till 
I put thine enemies underneath thy feet % ' If David 
then calleth him Lord, how is he his son ? ' ' And 
no one was able to answer him a word, and they 
left him, not daring to ask him any more ques- 
tions. 

Then spoke Jesus to the multitude and to his 
disciples, saying, "The Scribes and the Pharisees 
sit in Moses's seat, teaching the law. All therefore 
vdiatsoever they bid you do, these things do and 
observe. 



3i 6 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

6 ' But do not after their works, for they say 
and do not. All their works are done to be seen 
of men. They make broad their phylacteries, and 
enlarge the borders of their garments." Phylac- 
teries were small pieces of parchment on which 
passages of scripture were written, and were worn 
at time of prayer on the left arm and the fore- 
head. It is said that the Pharisees wore them 
constantly for show. The Israelites were bidden 
to wear fringes around their outer garments fas- 
tened with blue ribbon to distinguish them from 
other nations and to remind them of their duty to 
obey the law. The Pharisees, believing in the strict 
observance of the law, made these fringes larger 
and longer than others. 

" They loved the chief place at the feasts, and the 
chief seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the 
market-places, and to be called of men, master. But 
be not ye called master. For one is your Master, and 
all ye are brethren." They were not to call any one 
Holy Father, but God, who is the Father of all men. 
' And whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased ; 
and whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted." 
Then, turning toward the Scribes and Pharisees, 
Jesus pointed out their guilt in doing wrong them- 
selves and leading others astray, and in burning 
words poured out the divine wrath upon them. 

Eight times he pronounced those terrible words, 
u Woe unto you;" proving by their acts that they 
were hypocrites. They might appear righteous unto 
men, but their hearts were full of deceitfulness and 
sin. They were to blame for all the sins of Jerusa- 
lem, and because they were determined to go on in 
the way their fathers had done they were to be left to 
do so. And upon them would come the punishment 
for all the prophets that had been slain since the time 
of Abel. The Jews by rejecting Christ had brought 




JESUS WEEPINQ OVER JERUSALEM, 



PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. 319 

the wrath of God upon them, and sorrowfully he 
lamented over the city he would have saved. 

u O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the 
prophets and stoneth them that are sent unto thee, 
how often would I have gathered thy children to- 
gether, even as a hen gathered her chickens under 
her wings, and ye would not ! Behold, your house is 
left unto you desolate." And he said they should 
not see him again until they were converted, and 
welcomed him with hosannas. When he had entered 
the city three days before, the Jews in Jerusalem 
had asked "Who is he r f When they had learned 
to know Christ they would exclaim, ' ' Blessed is he 
that cometh in the name of the Lord ! ' ' 

At the end of forty years Jerusalem was in ruins 
nothing being left of the once handsome city, the 
pride of the Jews, but the temple, which stood on 
Mount Zion. Jesus having spoken these farewell 
words, left the temple courts, and went with the 
disciples out upon the Mount of Olives. 



CHAPTEE XXIII. 

PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS — TEN TALENTS — 
PICTURE OF THE LAST DAY — "INASMUCH AS 
YE DID IT NOT TO ME " — THE PASCHAL FEAST — 
"LORD IS IT I?" — THE TRAITOR MADE 
KNOWN. 

As Jesus went out of the temple for the last time 
his disciples drew near to him, and called his atten- 
tion to the beauty of the holy city, saying unto him, 
' ' Master, see what stones and what buildings ! ' ' 
Jesus said unto him, " Seest thou these great build- 
ings? There shall not be left here one stone upon 
another that shall not be thrown down." 

When they reached the Mount of Olives, at a 



3 20 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

point opposite the temple, Peter and James, and 
John and Andrew, spoke to Jesus privately, saying, 
' ' Tell us, when shall these things be % and by what 
sign shall we know that they are about to be 
done ? ' ' 

Jesus said unto them, " See that no man deceive 
you. Many shall come in my name, saying, 1 am 
Christ ; and he shall deceive many. And when ye 
shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not 
troubled : these things must needs come to pass, but 
the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against 
nation, and kingdom against kingdom ; there shall 
be earthquakes in divers places, and famine and 
sickness ; but these things are only the beginnings 
of troubles. 

Then he warned them of the trials they would 
have to endure in their efforts to preach the Gos- 
pel. They would suffer in many ways, and be the 
cause of much strife, but those who held out, and 
stood up for Jesus at all times, and in all places, 
should have a glorious reward. 

They were not to be on the watch for signs, but 
to watch themselves ; to be active in doing the 
Lord' s work. ' ' Lest coming suddenly he find you 
sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto 
all— WATCH ! " 

Jesus said, "Learn a parable of the rig-tree. 
When it is become tender and putteth forth leaves 
ye know that the summer is nigh. So ye, also, 
when ye see all these things, know that he is 
nigh." Jesus told them to be always ready, like 
faithful servants, ' ' For in an hour when ye think 
not the Son of Man cometh." 

Then he sj)oke to them another parable, saying, 
' ' The kingdom of heaven is like unto ten virgins 
who took their lamps and went forth to meet the 
bridegroom. And live of them were wise and live 



PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. 



321 



foolish. For the foolish when they took their 
lamps took no oil in them. But the wise took oil 
in their vessels with their lamps. 

"Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all fell 




THE FOOLISH VIRGINS. 

asleep, and slept sonndly, Bnt at midnight a cry 
is made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go ye 
forth to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose 
and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said 
unto the wise, ' Give us of your oil ; for our lamps 



322 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 
' Not so ; lest there be not enough for us and you. 
Go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your- 
selves.' And Avhile they went away to buy the oil, 
the bridegroom came ; and the door was shut. 

Afterward came also the foolish virgins, saying, 
' Lord, lord, open to us ! ' But he answered and 
said, 'Verily I say unto you, I know you not.' 
Watch, therefore ; for ye know not the day nor the 
hour when the Son of Man cometh." This parable 
was a word picture of a familiar scene. It was 
the custom in the East to carry about ten lamps in a 
bridal procession. These virgins came to the bride's 
house bringing their own lamps. The meaning of 
this is that professing Christians were waiting for 
the coming of Christ, the Bridegroom, who had been 
far away. The lamps are their hearts, and faith the 
oil that kept them bright. Five brought their own 
lamps but no oil to feed them. They may have 
thought they could get a supply from the other five, 
but each heart must bear its own light. The faith of 
others cannot save us. "There is plenty of time," 
they said, these foolish ones, and so they put off 
from day to day making any preparation for the 
marriage-feast. 

Then night came on, and they said in their folly, 
"He will not come now! To-morrow will do." 
And they fell asleep. Suddenly they were awakened 
by a cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh! Come 
ye out to meet him ! " Five sprang up with joy and 
gladness, their hearts burning bright with faith and 
hope. But five trimmed their wicks in vain. They 
sought help from others in vain. And when they 
went out to do the work that should have been done 
in the daytime, the festive procession had passed in 
and — the door was shut ! 

Christ will come when least expected. All our 



TEN TALENTS. 323 

lives we must make ready for Him. "Without faith 
it is impossible to please God." Think what a dread- 
ful thing it is to be — too late ! We slept when we 
should have toiled. The day of grace is passed ! and 
forever, forever, will ring through our ears that terri- 
ble strain of pitying sadness — "Too late! too late! 
ye cannot enter now ! ' ' 

After this parable of the ten virgins — showing the 
danger of wasting time — Jesus gave the parable of 
the ten talents. He had been speaking of the king- 
dom of GJ-od, and said, "It is like a man going into 
a far-off country, who called his servants and delivered 
to them his goods, and unto one he gave five talents, 
to another two, and to another one ; to each man 
according to his ability ; and he went on his journey. 

" Straightway he that received five talents, went and 
traded with them, and made five other talents, and 
likewise he that had received the two talents, gained 
two more. But he that received the one went away, 
and dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord's 
money. 

"Now, after a long time the lord of those servants 
cometh to have a reckoning with them, and he that 
had received five talents came and brought other live 
talents, saying, ' Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five 
talents ; behold, I have gained other five talents.' 
His lord said unto him, ' Well done, thou good and 
faithful servant ; thou wast faithful over a few things, 
I will make the ruler over many things. Enter thou 
into the joy of thy lord.' He also that received two 
talents came and said, ' Lord, thou deliveredst unto 
me two talents ; behold, I have gained other two.' His 
lord said unto him, ' Well done, good and faithful ser- 
vant ; thou wast faithful over a few things, I will 
make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into 
the joy of thy lord.' 

" Then he who had received the one talent came, and 



3^4 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



said, ' Lord, I knew thee, that thou art a hard man, 
reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering 
where thou didst not scatter ; and, being afraid, I 




THE TALENTS, 



went and hid thy talent in the earth ; lo, there thou 
hast thine own.' But his lord answered, and said unto 
him, ' Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knew- 



PICTURE OF THE LAST DA Y. 325 

est that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where 
I did not scatter ; thou oughtest therefore to have 
given my money to the bankers, and then at my com- 
ing I should have received back mine own with inter- 
est. Take ye away, therefore, the talent from him, 
and give it unto him that received five talents.' For 
unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall 
have abundance, but from him that hath not even 
that which we hath shall be taken away ; and cast out 
the unxDrofitable servant into outer darkness ; there 
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

We are the Lord's servants, and each one of us has 
a gift, or talent. Some are more gifted than others, 
and more is expected of them. If they make it their 
joy to do their work well, and to add to the wealth of 
their Master, they will have rich reward. Those who 
have but few gifts can add to them by putting them 
to a good use, and if they are faithful to do Christ's 
work on earth, they will share his joy in heaven. 

But what of those who are like the third servant ? 
They do not like their master well enough to work 
for him. They care only for themselves. They have 
one gift they might use for the Master' s service, but 
they are idle and ease-loving, and so hide it away 
under worldly things, fearing, as they say, they 
might do more harm than good. Christ showed that 
the excuses of the man with the one talent were false 
and flimsy. The smallest work for God or for good 
brings a rich reward. 

The talent referred to here was doubtless faith, 
which is given to all. Some have more than others, 
but, however small our share, we can increase it by 
prayer and work, and so win the sweet and blessed 
words of approval, "Well done, thou good and faith- 
ful servant ! ' ' 

Jesus having set forth the danger of waste of time, 
and waste of talents, now speaks of the glory of his 



326 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

triumph. When the Son of Man shall come in his 
glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit 
upon the throne of his glory ; and before him shall 
be gathered all the nations. And he shall separate 
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth 
the sheep from the goats, and he shall set the 
sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his 
left. 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right 
hand, ' ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world. For I was a-hungered, and ye gave me 
meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink. I was 
a stranger, and ye took me in. Naked, and ye 
clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me. I was 
in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 
"Lord, when saw we thee a-hungered, and fed thee? 
or thirsty, and gave thee drink % And when saw we 
thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" And 
the King shall answer and say unto them, "Verily I 
say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the 
least of my brethren ye did it unto me." 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left 
hand, ' ' Depart from me, ye accursed ones, into the 
everlasting lire prepared for the devil and his angels. 
For I was a-hungered and ye gave me no meat. I 
was thirsty and ye gave me no drink. I was a 
stranger, and ye took me not into your homes ; 
naked, and he clothed me not ; sick, and in prison, 
and ye visited me not." 

Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, " When 
saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or 
sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?" 
Then shall he answer them saying, "Verily I say 
unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the 
least of these, ye did it not to me." And these shall 



THE PASCHAL FEAST. 327 

go away into everlasting punishment ; but the right- 
eous into life eternal. 

This was a picture of the last day. And when 
Jesus had finished all these words, he said unto his 
disciples, " Ye know that after two days the feast of 
the passover cometh and the Son of Man is to be 
delivered up and crucified." 

Then gathered together the chief priests and elders 
of the people in the house of Caiaphas, the high 
priest, and they consulted that they might take Jesus 
by craft, and put him to death. " Not on the feast 
day," they said, " lest a tumult should arise among 
the people." 

Now Judas had had hard thoughts in his heart 
toward Jesus ever since Mary anointed her Lord at 
Bethany. For Judas was a proud and vain man, 
and both his pride and vanity were hurt by what 
Jesus had said at that time. He had hopes that 
Jesus would set up a throne in Jerusalem, and did 
not wish to lose his chance of being made one of 
the chief officers. But as nothing came of the royal 
entry into the holy city, and Jesus spoke so plainly 
of his death, the wicked Judas felt that the time had 
come for him to act. Therefore on Wednesday 
afternoon he slunk away from the rest of the dis- 
ciples, and made his way back to Jerusalem, the 
gates of which were left open during the public 
feasts. 

Arrived there, he went at once to the chief priests 
and captains to consult with them as to the way in 
which he should deliver Jesus into their hands . 

When the chief priests learned that this man was 
one of the twelve, who had been with Jesus for the 
past three years, they were glad, for their way now 
was safe and clear. 

It has been said that "A man's worst foes are those 
of his own household," and Judas, as well as other 



328 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

false-liearted traitors have proven the truth of these 
words. Judas need not lay hands on Jesus. He had 
only to point him out and the officers would seize 
him. 

But was this to be done for nothing \ Not by one 
like Judas. So he put on a bold face and said, 
" What will you give me?" Now the lowest price of 
a slave was thirty pieces of silver — less than fifteen 
dollars — and the chief priests promised to pay this 
sum to Judas when he delivered his master into their 
hands. 

It was a small sum, but had they offered less Judas 
would have had to keep to his part of the bargain. 
And he went back to the Mount of Olives, watching 
ever for a chance to deliver Jesus into the hands of 
his enemies. 

This was on Wednesday, and all that day Jesus 
had stayed away from the temple. The people had 
watched and waited for him in vain. He did not 
come. The next day, Thursday, was the Passover 
Feast, when the unleavened bread must be eaten, and 
the Paschal lamb be killed. The preparation for this 
feast began shortly after the return of Judas. 

Now the Jews, the night before the passover, 
searched through the house with a lighted candle for 
any leaven that might be hidden. From ten to 
twenty persons were gathered as one household. 

The lamb was to be kept for four days, and then 
taken to the temple, and slain by the owner. The 
priests standing in a row received the blood in silver 
basins which they passed from hand to hand, until 
at the foot of the altar it was poured out and flowed 
through an under-ground channel into the brook 
Kedron. 

The skin and fat of the lamb were then taken 
off by the householder ; the fat being burned on 
the altar by the priest, and the skin carried home 



THE PASCHAL FEAST. 331 

bound around the lamb. That night the flesh was 
to be cooked and eaten, and what was left over 
was to be burned up. 

The Jews of olden times were to eat this meal 
with their loins girded, with shoes on their feet, 
and staff in hand, as if in haste to start on a jour- 
ney. But all this had been changed. 

Now Jesus was near to Bethany, which is part 
of Jerusalem, and might have eaten the feast at 
that place. But Jesus had other plans. Neither 
he nor his disciples had any home. And where 
was the Lamb to be killed ? 

When the day of unleavened bread came, Jesus 
sent Peter and John, saying, ' ' Go and make ready 
the passover for us, that we may eat." And they 
said unto him, ' ' Where wilt thou that we make 
ready?" And he said unto them, "Behold, when 
ye enter the city there shall meet you a man with 
a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house 
where he enters. And ye shall say unto him, ' The 
Master saith unto thee, where is the guest-cham- 
ber where I shall eat the passover with my dis- 
ciples ? ' And he will show you a large upper room 
furnished. There make ready." And they went, 
and found everything as he had said. And they 
made ready the passover. 

When the evening was come, Jesus sat down, 
and the twelve apostles with him. And he said 
unto them, ' ' With desire have I desired to eat 
this passover with you before I suffer. For I say 
unto you I shall not eat it again until the Mar- 
riage Supper of the Lamb is made ready." 

Then there arose a strife among the disciples as 
to which should be the greatest in that kingdom. 
Jesus said, ' ' The kings of the Gentiles exercise 
authority over them ; and they that have authority 
are looked upon as benefactors. But not so ye." 



332 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

They were to be kings, but not after the same 
fashion. "Ye are they," he said, "who have been 
with me in my temptations, and ye will share in 
my kingdom." "Simon, Simon," he added, "Be- 
hold, Satan hath desired to have you that he might 
sift you as wheat. But I have prayed that your 
faith fail not, and when thou hast turned again, 
strengthen the brethren. For which is the greater, 
he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth ? Is not 
he that sitteth at meat ? But I am in the midst 
of you as one who serveth." 

Then rising from the table, and laying down his 
outer garments, Jesus took a towel and girded 
himself. Then he poured water into the basin, and 
began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them 
with the towel which was bound about his waist. 
This act would usually be done by a servant; but 
here Jesus, the Master of the feast, puts him- 
self in the servant's place, to teach a lesson in 
humility. 

He cometh therefore to Simon Peter, who saith 
unto him, ' ' Lord, dost thou wash my feet ? It 
cannot be!" But Jesus said unto him, "What I 
do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know 
hereafter." Peter, shocked at seeing his Lord and 
Master doing this menial work, saith unto him, 
"Thou shalt never wash my feet." Jesus answered 
him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with 
me." The thought of separation was more than 
Peter could bear, and feeling in his heart that it 
was a work of love, he gave up his own will and 
said unto Jesus, "Lord, not my feet only, but also 
my hands and my head." He asked for a thorough 
cleansing, that he might be brought nearer to the 
one whom he loved. Jesus saith to him, " He that 
is bathed, needeth only to wash his feet, but is 
clean every whit. And ye are clean, but not all." 



"LORD IS IT I?" 333 

For he knew who had planned to betray him ; there- 
fore, said he, " Ye are not all clean." 

When therefore he had washed their feet, and had 
taken his garments, and had sat down again, he said 
to them, " Do ye know what I have done to you ? Ye 
call me Master and Lord, and ye say well, for so 1 
am. If I, therefore, your Lord and Master, have 
washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's 
feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also 
should do even as I did." They were not literally to 
wash each other's feet, but to be willing to take a 
lowly position, and to be kind and good to their 
fellow-men. 

" Verily, verily, I say unto you," Jesus continued, 
"No servant is greater than his lord, neither is one 
that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye 
know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I 
speak not of you all. I know whom I have chosen ; 
but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He that 
eateth of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against 
me.'* From henceforth I tell you before it comes to 
pass, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe 
that I am. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that 
receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me, and he 
that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." 

When Jesus had thus said he was troubled in 
spirit, and speaking even more plainly he said, 
"Verily, verily, I say unto you that one of you shall 
betray me." The disciples looked at one another, 
amazed and perplexed, and doubting of whom he 
spoke, and murmurs of "It is I, Lord?" were heard 
around the board. As they reclined at table, the 
head of John, the beloved disciple, was close to the 
breast of Jesus, and on the left of the Master was 
Judas, who had no doubt claimed the chief seat at 



* Psalms xli. 



334 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

the table, the post of honor. The seats were arranged 
in the form of a horseshoe, and by this means one 
end of the table was left free, that the servants 
might pass back and forth. Peter being opposite 
John, motioned to him to ask Jesus who it was of 
whom he spake. John, leaning back on Jesus' s breast, 
said unto him, "Who is it, Lord?" The disciples 
were still asking "Is it I, Lord? Is it I?" even 
Judas seeking to veil his guilt, by asking "Is it I, 
Rabbi?" 

Jesus said unto John, "He it is to whom I shall 
give the so}) when I have dipped it in the dish." 
When therefore he had dipped the sop, lie gave it to 
Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after taking 
the sop then Satan entered into him. He was as one 
possessed with a devil. Jesus therefore saith to 
him, "That thou doest, do more quickly." No one 
of those reclining at meat understood why he said 
this to Judas. Some of them thought that as he 
had the bag Jesus had sent him out to buy some- 
thing that was needed, or to give something to the 
poor. But Judas knew what was meant, and having 
received the sop he immediately rushed out into the 
darkness of the night. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE LAST SUPPER — JESUS PRAYS WITH AND FOR HIS 
DISCIPLES— THE PROMISE OF THE COMFORTER. 

Judas had gone out, and Jesus was alone with the 
disciples whom he loved, and from whom he was so 
soon to part. "Now is the Son of Man glorified," he 
said, "and God is glorified in him, and God shall glor- 
ify him in himself, and that straightway." The Pas- 




THE LAST SUPPED. 



THE LAST SUPPER. 337 

chal Feast being at an end, Jesus instituted the Lord's 
Supper, which was to take the place of the Pass- 
over Feast and remain as a Holy Communion 
between Jesus and his disciples. 

Jesus took the bread, and having given thanks, 
he broke it and gave to the disciples, saying, 
" Take, eat ; this is my body, which is given for 
you. This do in remembrance of me." And he took 
the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave 
to them and they all drank of it. And he said 
to them, ' ' This cup is the new covenant in my 
blood, which is shed for many for the remission 
of sins. And I say unto you, I shall not drink 
henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day 
when I drink it new with you in the Kingdom 
of God. "Little children," he said, "yet a little 
while I am with you. Ye shall seek me, and even 
as I said to the Jews, whither I go, ye cannot 
come ; so now I say it unto you. A new com- 
mandment I give unto you, That ye love one 
another, even as I have loved you. By this shall 
all men know that ye are disciples of mine, if ye 
have love toward one another." 

Simon Peter saith unto him, 4 ' Lord, whither 
goest thou away?" Jesus answered, "Whither I 
go, thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt 
follow afterwards." Peter saith, "Lord, why can- 
not I follow thee even now % I will lay down my 
life for thee." Jesus answereth, "Wilt thou lay 
down thy life for me ? Verily, verily, I say unto 
thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou hast 
denied me thrice." 

Jesus knew how great would be their grief 
when he was parted from them, and he longed to 
comfort them. "Let not your heart be troubled," 
he said, "ye believe in God, believe also in me. 
In my Father's house are many mansions; if it 



338 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

were not so I would have told you ; because I go 
to prepare a place for you. And if I go and pre- 
pare a j)lace for you, I will come again and receive 
you unto myself ; that where I am there ye may be 
also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye 
know." He was going to his Father's house, and 
those who knew Christ were on the right road. 

Thomas said unto him, " Lord, we know not 
whither thou goest ; and how can we know the 
way ?" Jesus saith unto him, " I am the Way, and 
the Truth, and the Life. No one cometh unto the 
Father but through me. If ye had learned to know 
me, ye would know the Father also. From hence- 
forth ye learn to know him, and have seen him." 
Soon they would understand many things that 
seemed dark to them now, for their minds and 
hearts would be opened. 

Philip, being in doubt, saith unto him, "Lord, 
show us the Father and it sumceth us." Jesus saith 
unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and 
yet hast thou not learned to know me, Philip % He 
that hath seen me hath seen the Father. How then 
sayest thou, show us the Father % Believest thou not 
that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? The 
words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself ; 
but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. 
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father 
in me ; or else believe me for his works' sake." 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth 
in me, the works that I do he shall also do ; and 
greater works than these shall he do, because I go to 
the Father. And whatsoever ye ask in my name, 
this will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the 
Son. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And 
I will pray the Father, and he will give you another 
comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even 
the spirit of the truth, whom the world cannot 



JESUS PRAYS WITH HIS DISCIPLES. 339 

receive, because it seeth him not, neither hath learned 
to know him. But ye learn to know him, for he 
dwelleth with you, and is in you. 

"I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to 
you. Yet a little while and the world beholdeth me 
no more. But ye see me ; and because I live ye shall 
live also. In that day ye shall know that I am in 
my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that 
hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is 
that loveth me ; and he that loveth me shall be loved 
of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest 
myself unto him." 

Judas saith unto him, not Judas Iscariot, "Lord, 
how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and 
not unto the world? " Jesus said unto him, "If any 
one love me he will keep my word, and my Father 
will love him, and we will come unto him, and make 
make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, 
keepeth not my words ; and the word which ye hear 
is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 
These things have I spoken unto you while abiding 
with you. But the comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom 
the Father will send you in my name, he will teach 
you all things, and will bring all things to your 
remembrance that I have said unto you. Peace 
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you ; 
not as the world giveth give I unto you. 
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be 
afraid. Ye heard what I said unto you, I go away, 
and I come unto you again. If ye loved me, ye 
would be glad that I go unto the Father, because 
the Father is greater than I. And now I have told 
you before it come to pass, that when it is come 
to pass ye may believe. From henceforth I will not 
talk much with you ; for the prince of this world 
cometh ; and he hath nothing in me. But he 
cometh that the world may perceive that I love the 



34o THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Father, and that even as the Father gave me com- 
mandment, so I do. 

" I am the true vine, and my Father is the hus- 
bandman. Every branch in me which beareth not 
fruit he taketli away ; and every fruit-bearing branch 
he cleanseth, that it may bear more fruit. Already 
are ye clean because of the word which I have spoken 
unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the 
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide 
in the vine ; neither can ye except ye abide in me. 
I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth 
in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit ; 
because, apart from me, ye can do nothing. If any 
one abide not in me, he is cast forth as the branch, 
and is withered ; and they gather them, and cast 
them into the lire, and they burn. 

" If ye abide in me, and my sayings abide in you, 
ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto 
you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye might 
bear much fruit, and become my discij)les. Even as 
the Father loved me, I also loved you ; abide ye in 
my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall 
abide in my love, even as I have kept the Father's 
commandments, and abide in his love. These things 
have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, 
and that your joy may be fulfilled. This is my com- 
mandment, that ye love one another, even as I loved 
you. Greater love hath no man than this, that he 
lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, 
if ye do that which I command you. 

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me 
before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the 
world would love its own ; but because ye are not of 
the world, but I chose you out of the world, because 
of this the world hateth you." Then, after charging 
them to remember all that he had taught them, he 
told them of the suffering and persecution they 



fESUS PRAYS WITH HIS DISCIPLES. 341 

would have to bear in this world, because the world 
hated both him and his disciples. Bnt they would 
be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and have more 
power among men, because they had been with Jesus 
from the beginning. 

" These things have I spoken unto you," he said, 
" That ye may not stumble. They shall put you out 
of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that every 
one that killeth you will think that he doeth God 
service. And these things will they do, because 
they know not the Father, nor me. 

"A little while, and ye shall not see me; and 
again a little while, and ye shall see me." Some of 
the disciples therefore said one to anothor, ' ' What 
does he mean by saying a little while, and ye behold 
me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me? 
and of all that he said about going to the Father ? ' ' 

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, answered them 
thus : " Yerily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall 
weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. Ye shall 
be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into 
joy. These things have I spoken unto you in pro- 
verbs ; but the time cometh when I shall no more 
speak unto you in proverbs, but will tell you plainly 
concerning the Father." Hitherto they had not 
asked anything in his name; but in that day they 
should ask and receive. "I came forth from the 
Father," he said, u and am come into the world; 
again, I leave the world, and go the Father." How 
well he had read their thoughts ! This to them was 
evidence that he came from God, and they believed in 
him. Jesus said, "Do ye now believe? Behold an 
hour cometh, and is even now here, in which ye shall 
all be scattered — every man to his own home — and 
will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, because 
the Father is with me. These things have I spoken 
unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the 



342 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good 
courage, for I have overcome the world." 

While yet the disciples stood around him, Jesus, 
acting as their high priest, brought them as an offer- 
ing to his heavenly Father. Lifting up his eyes 
toward heaven, he said, "Father, the hour is come ; 
glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee ; even 
as thou gavest him power over all flesh, that he 
might give eternal life to as many as thou didst 
give unto him. And this is life eternal, that they 
might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, 
whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on earth. 
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 
And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thine own 
self, with the glory which I have had with thee before 
the world was. I manifested thy name unto the men 
which thou gavest me out of the world ; thine they 
were, and thou gavest them to me ; and they have kept 
thy word. Now have they learned that all things 
thou gavest me are from thee. The words which thou 
gavest me I have given them, and they received them, 
and learned to know truly that I came forth from 
thee, and believed that thou didst send me. I pray 
for them. I pray not for the world, but for them 
which thou hast given me ; for they are thine. And 
all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine ; 
and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no 
longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I 
pray thee, holy Father, keep, through thine own 
name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may 
be one, even as we are one. When I was with them 
in the world, I kept them in thy name which thou 
hast given me, and I guarded them, and not one of 
them perished, but the son of perdition, that the 
Scriptures might be fulfilled." But now I come to 



* Psalms xli. 9. 



THE PROMISE OE THE COMFORTER, 343 

thee, and these things I speak in the world, that the 
joy that is mine may be fulfilled in them. I have 
given them thy word, and the world hated them 
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of 
the world. I ask not that thou shouldst take them out 
of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them away 
from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as 
I am not of the world. Consecrate them through the 
truth ; thy word is truth. Even as thou didst send 
me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 
For them I consecrate myself, that they themselves 
may also be consecrated in truth. 

''Neither pray I for these alone, but for all those 
who shall believe in me through their word. That 
they all may be one, even as thou, Father, art in 
me, and I in thee ; that they themselves may also 
be in us ; that the world may believe that thou 
didst send me. The glory which thou hast given 
me I have given them ; that they may be one, even 
as we are one ; I in them, and thou in me, that 
they may be perfected into One ; that the world 
may learn to know that thou didst send me, and 
lovedst them as thoii lovedst me. 

' ' Father, I desire that those whom thou hast given 
me, be with me, that they may behold my glory 
which thou hast given me, because thou lovedst me 
before the foundation of the world. Righteous 
Father, the world hath not learned to know thse ; 
but I learned to know thee, and these learned to 
know that thou didst send me. And I made known 
unto them thy name, and will make it known, that 
the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, 
and I in them." 

His last thoughts were not of himself, but of those 
whom he had guided and guarded, and must now 
leave to carry on the work he had begun. 

Our Lord's prayer will not be answered until the 



344 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

whole world is converted, and united in One Church, 
and disciples everywhere are One in Christ Jesus. 
The same spirit must be at work in us, our hope 
and aim being to grow more like him, and to tell the 
story of his love so that all the world will be won 
over to his side, and there will be One Lord, One 
faith, One baptism. Then there will be joy on earth, 
and joy in heaven. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

IN THE UPPER ROOM — GETHSEMANE — THE JUDAS KISS 
— JESUS ON TRIAL — HE IS SENT TO PILATE — CON- 
DEMNED TO DEATH — CRUELTY OF THE SOLDIERS. 

After Jesus had spoken his farewell words, and 
offered his last prayer in the upper room, a hymn was 
sung, and then he and his disciples went forth out of 
the city. It was midnight, and the gates were still 
open, the streets not yet deserted. Passing down the 
Temple-mount, on the eastern side, they crossed the 
valley of the Kedron, the brook being at this time 
of the year a roaring torrent, and made their way 
toward the Mount of Olives. 

On this mount was a small garden, or orchard, 
called Gethsemane — a Greek word signifying ' ' Oil- 
press " — which contained fruit trees, and flowering 
shrubs, and a place for storing the olives and pres- 
sing out the oil. Here in this quiet nook Jesus had 
been wont to meet with his disciples, and to talk 
with them ; and the place was known to Judas. 

As they drew near the garden at this time, Jesus 
said to the disciples, ' '' All ye shall turn away from 
me this night." Judas had left him, and so would 
they. "For it is written," he said, U I will smite 
the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered 




IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 



GETHSEMANE. 347 

abroad. But after I am • raised up I will go before 
you into Galilee." 

Peter said, "If ail be offended with thee, yet 
will not I." Jesus saith unto him, "Verily I say 
unto thee, that this night before the cock crow, thou 
shalt thrice deny me." Peter spoke even more 
decidedly, and said "Even if I die with thee, I will 
not deny thee." And the rest of the disciples said 
the same. 

Soon they came to the Garden of Gethsemane, and 
Jesus said to the disciples, "Sit ye here, while I go 
yonder and pray." And he began to be sorrowful, 
and in sore trouble. He felt as God had left him to 
meet his foes alone. He was in need of human 
sympathy, and he said to Peter, James, and John, 
" Stay here, and watch with me." And he went for- 
ward a little, and knelt down and prayed, " If it is 
possible let this cup pass away from me; neverthe- 
less, not as 1 will, but as thou wilt." And he cometh 
to his disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith 
unto Peter, ' ' What, could ye not watch with me 
one hour % Watch and pray, that ye enter not into 
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the 
flesh is weak." 

Peter loved the Lord, and promised to stand by 
him. But alas ! being weary, he fell asleep. But 
Jesus forgave him. 

And going away a second time he prayed, saying, 
" O my Father, if this cup cannot pass away except I 
drink it, thy will be done." And he came again, 
and found them still sleeping, for their eyes were 
heavy. And he left them, and went away a third 
time, saying again the same words. 

And there appeared unto him an angel, strengthen- 
ing him. And being in an agony, he prayed more 
earnestly, and his sweat became as it were great 
drops of blood falling upon the ground. And when 



348 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

he arose from his prayer, he came to the disciples, 
and found them still sleeping. And he said nnto 
them, " Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is 
enough, the hour is come. Behold, the Son of Man 
is betrayed into the hands of sinners." There was 
no more need of watching. The conflict was over. 
"Arise, and let us "be going, for he that betray eth 
me is at hand." 

While he yet spake, there came Judas, one of 
the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords 
and clubs, whom the chief priests, Scribes, and 
elders, had sent out to do his bidding. Judas had 
said to these soldiers, "Whomsoever I kiss, that 
is he. Take him, and lead him away safely." 

When he came unto the garden, he went straight- 
way to Jesus, saying, " Rabbi, rabbi," and drew 
near to kiss him. Jesus saith unto him, "Judas, 
betray eth thou the Son of Man with a kiss \ ' ' Then as 
the men came near with their lanterns and torches, 
Jesus said unto them, "Whom seek ye?" And 
they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said unto 
them, "I am he." And Judas was standing with 
them. When therefore he said unto them, "I am 
he," they went backward, and fell to the ground. 

Again, therefore, he asked them, "Whom seek 
ye?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus 
answered, "I told you I am he. If, therefore, ye 
seek me, let these go their way. Let no harm come 
to them, ' ' The disciples were wide awake now, and as 
the soldiers drew near to take Jesus, they said: " Lord, 
shall we smite them with the sword ? ' ' Peter, not 
waiting for an answer, but acting on the impulse of 
the moment, drew his sword, and struck one of the 
servants of the high priests, and cut off his right ear. 
The man's name was Malchus. Jesus said unto Peter, 
' ' Put thy sword back in its place ; for all they that 
take the sword shall perish by the sword. Thinkest 




JUDAS BETRAYS CHRIST. 



JESUS ON TRIAL. 351 

thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and even now 
he would send me twelve legions of angels % How 
then should the Scriptures be fulfilled that say these 
things must be % Suffer ye thus far," he said. And 
he touched the wounded man's ear and healed him. 
So kind and forgiving is he even to his worst enemies! 

Then turning to the company of soldiers sent out by 
the chief priests, and the officers of the temple, he 
said unto them: "Are ye come out as against a 
robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me ? When I 
was daily with you teaching in the temple, ye 
stretched not forth your hands to take me. But all 
this has come to pass that the words spoken by the 
prophets might be fulfilled. This is your hour, and 
the power of darkness." 

As the armed men closed around Jesus, the dis- 
ciples drew back, fearing to stay by him lest they also 
should be seized and put in prison. So they all for- 
sook him and lied. But among those who had joined 
the crowd was a young man, who had sprung out of 
bed in great haste, throwing around him only a loose 
linen wrapper. As the armed men moved off with 
Jesus, he followed at the rear, not thinking that he 
was in any danger. But the soldiers attempted to lay 
hold of him, and slipping from their grasp, he left in 
their hands the linen garment, and fled, naked. 

The armed men led the bound Christ back through 
the same gate by which he and his disciples had gone 
forth, and took him first to the palace of Annas. 
Annas had once been high priest, and was much 
thought of by the Jews. He was as much bent upon 
the death of Jesus as was his son-in-law, Caiaphas, 
but was a calmer and a craftier man. Caiaphas was 
the high priest of that year, and it was he who had 
told the members of the Sanhedrin that it was well 
that one man should die for the people. We are not 
told what took place before Annas, but he must have 



352 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST.- 

decided to take no part in this plot, as lie sent Jesns 
bound to Caiaphas. 

The disciples, in their fear, had forsaken him and 
lied ; but Peter and John soon came to their senses, 
and, turning back, joined the crowd that was now on 
its way to the high priest. The palace of Caiaphas 
was built up on four sides, leaving an open court in 
the middle. John was well known by the servants of 
the high priest, and he went in with Jesus into the 
court. But Peter was stopped at the door, and Jesus 
was lost to his view. 

John, as soon as he missed his companion, went out 
to the waiting-maid and told her that a friend of 
his Avas outside, and she opened the door and let 
Peter in. The maid therefore said unto Peter, " Art 
thou also one of his disciples \ ' ' He answered, ' ' I am 
not." Now the soldiers and the servants were 
standing around a fire of charcoal warming them- 
selves, and talking of what had taken place during 
the. night. And Peter also Avas Avith them Avarming 
himself, for the air was chilly. Presently one of the 
housemaids drew near, and as the light from the 
lire fell on Peter's face she saAv he Avas a stranger, 
and said, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 
Peter had already told one falsehood, and must tell 
another to make that good. Therefore he said so 
that all could hear him, "I know not the man." 
And at that moment a cock creAv. 

In the meantime, Jesus had been brought before 
Caiaphas, avIio asked him about his disciples and his 
teachings. Jesus ansAvered him, "I have spoken 
boldly to the Avorld. I even taught in synagogues, 
and in temple-courts Avhere the JeAvs assemble, and 
in secret I spoke nothing. Why askest thou me ? 
Ask those avIio have heard me what I said unto them. 
Behold, they knoAv the things that I have said." 

And when he had thus spoken, one of the soldiers 



JESUS ON TRIAL. 353 

who stood near struck Jesus with his hand, say- 
ing, "Answereth thou the high priest so?" Jesus 
said unto him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness 
of the evil ; but if well, why smitest thou me ? " 

Nov/ the chief priests and the whole council sought 
witness against Jesus to put him to death ; but found 
it not. For many told falsehoods about him, and 
their stories did not agree. And one stood up and 
spoke falsely against him, saying, "We heard him 
say, I will destroy this temple that is made with 
hands, and in three days I will build another made 
without hands." 

And the high priest stood up in their midst, and 
asked Jesus, ' ' Hast thou nothing to say ? What is it 
that these men charge thee with?" But he held his 
peace, and made no reply. Again the high priest 
spoke, and said unto him, "Art thou the Christ, 
the Son of God?" And Jesus said, "I am. And ye 
shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of 
Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." 
Then the high priest rent his clothes, as though mad 
with rage, saying, "He hath spoken blasphemy ; 
what further need have we of witnesses ? Behold, now 
ye yourselves have heard him blaspheme. What 
think ye, gentlemen ? ' ' And they all declared him 
guilty unto death. 

The Sanhedrin could only try those who were 
brought before them. They had not the power to 
put any one to death, but those guilty of a crime 
deserving this punishment, were sent to Pilate, the 
(governor, Jesus was therefore given into the hands 
of the soldiers, who blindfolded him, and did spit 
in his face, and strike him with their fists.. And 
some struck him with the palms of their hands, 
saying, "Prophesy unto us, thou Christ. Tell who 
it was that struck thee ! " But Jesus bore all their 
taunts without a word, 



354 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

About an hour had passed after the first cock- 
crowing, and Peter now stood near the gateway 
leading out to the street. The bystanders had been 
busy talking of the trial, and Peter had for awhile 
been forgotten. But now the light from the fire 
fell more directly on his face, and one of the men, 
a kinsman of Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut 
off, said, " Truly this one was with Jesus, the Naz- 
arene, for he is from Galilee." Peter, calling down 
curses on himself, and calling God to witness that 
he spoke the truth, said boldly, "I know not the 
man." Scarcely had he finished speaking when 
loud and shrill the cock crowed for the second 
time. 

At the same moment Jesus passed by with the 
armed men, on his way to the halls of Pilate. And 
the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. Oh, what 
a look of pity and of love ! In the light of that 
look he knew his dreadful sin. He remembered the 
word of the Lord, how that he said ' ' This day thou 
shalt deny me thrice." And, overcome with grief 
and shame, he went out and wept bitterly. 

It was on Friday morning, in the early dawn of 
a spring day, that the armed men led Jesus unto 
Pilate, who dwelt in a palace near the temple. 
Among those who saw the procession was Judas, who 
knew by this that Jesus had been condemned to 
death. His soul was moved. The full force of his 
guilt came up before him. He had not meant to 
bring about bloodshed ! The Jews were going to 
put an innocent man to death, and he was to blame 
for this awful deed ! 

Judas went in hot haste to the chief priests and 
elders, who were then in the temple, bringing back 
with him the thirty pieces of silver, he had been 
paid that night. And he said, "I have sinned, in 
that I have delivered up an innocent man." And 



HE IS SENT TO PILATE. 355 

they said, "What is that tons? See thou to it." 
He had been a tool in their hands, and they had 
no further use for him. 

Judas flung down the thirty pieces of silver in 
the holy place, and then rushed out of the temple, 
and went off to a solitary place, where he after- 
wards hanged himself. 

And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and 
said : "It is not lawful for us to put them into the 
treasury, since they are the price of blood." And 
they took counsel together, and bought with them 
the Potter's Field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore 
that held was called "the field of blood" unto this 
day. Then was brought to pass that which was 
spoken by Jeremiah the prophet : ' ' And they took 
the thirty pieces of silver, the value of him whom 
they priced, on behalf of the sons of Israel. And 
they gave them for the Potter's Field, as the Lord 
commanded me." * 

It was still early in the morning when the Jews led 
Jesus into the judgment hall. But they went not in 
themselves, lest they should lose the Passover Feast, 
which had been sadly interrupted. The night was 
flying fast. Jerusalem was filled with people, and 
many of the Jews had rushed to the garden, hoping 
to return and finish their meal at daybreak. They 
had hurried to the house of Annas, hoping to deliver 
Jesus into his hands. Failing in this they made 
haste to Caiaphas, and now they had come to Pilate's 
house. Already had they wasted too much time, and 
with every appearance of haste they brought Jesus 
before Pilate. 

Pilate, therefore, saith unto them, ' ' What accusa- 
tion bring ye against this man?" They answered 
him, " If this man were not an evildoer we should not 



* Zack, xi. 13. 



356 THE LITE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

have delivered him up unto thee. We found this 
man giving false directions to our people, forbidding 
them to pay tribute to Csesar, and saying that he 
himself is the Christ, and a king." 

Then said Pilate unto them : ' ' Take him yourselves 
and judge him." The Jews said: "It is not lawful 
for us to put any man to death." The Jewish mode 
of putting to death was by stoning ; but it had been 
foretold that Christ should be lifted up on high," 
which meant that he should be put to death on the 
cross. And this mode of punishment could be 
inflicted by the Roman power alone. Pilate, there- 
fore, entered again into the jjalace, and calling Jesus, 
said unto him: "Art thou the King of the Jews?" 
Jesus answered : " Sayest thou this of thyself, or did 
others speak concerning me ? ' ' Pilate answered, 
"Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief 
priests delivered thee unto me. What hast thou 
doneT' 

Jesus answered : ' ' My kingdom is not of this 
world ; if it were of this world then would my ser- 
vants strive that I should not be delivered up unto 
the Jews." Pilate said unto him, "Art thou then a 
king?" Jesus said, "Thou sayest it. To this end 
have I been born, and for this cause came I into the 
world, that I should bear witness of the truth. Every 
one that is of the truth heareth my voice." 

Pilate said unto him, "What is truth?" And 
when he had thus spoken, he went out to the chief 
priests and the multitudes, and said unto them, "I 
find no fault in this man." This only made them 
the more fierce ; and they cried out, ' ' He stirreth up 
the people, teaching throughout all Judea, and 
beginning from Galilee even unto this place." 

When Pilate heard the name of Galilee, he asked 
whether the man were a Galilean. Learning that he 
came from that part of the country, which was under 



CONDEMNED TO DEATH. 357 

Herod's authority, lie sent him unto Herod, who was 
also in Jerusalem in these days. 

When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad ; 
for he had been for a long time anxious to see him, 
because he had heard many things concerning him, 
and hoped to see some miracle done by him. And he 
questioned him with many words, but Jesus answered 
him nothing. And all the while the chief priests 
and Scribes stood by, loudly accusing him. 

And Herod with his attending bodyguard treated 
him with scorn and contempt, and mocked at him 
with sneering words and gestures. And Herod had 
him arrayed in a scarlet robe, in mockery of his claim 
to royalty, and sent him back to Pilate. And that 
very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each 
other, for before they were at enmity, having had a 
serious quarrel. 

Pilate, when he had called together the rulers and 
the people, said unto them, "Ye have brought unto 
me this man as one that stirreth up the people, and 
behold, I, having examined him before you, find no 
fault in him concerning the things whereof ye accuse 
him." 

Now it was customary at this feast, for the Gov- 
ernor to set free any prisoner that the people 
desired. And there was in prison at that time, a 
wicked man named Barabbas, who was guilty of 
murder. When therefore the elders were gathered 
together, Pilate said unto them, ' ' Whom will ye that 
I release unto you ; Barabbas or Jesus who is called 
the Christ?" For he knew that for envy because of 
his popularity with the common people, they had 
delivered him up on a false charge. 

While Pilate was sitting 011 the judgment seat, his 
wife sent unto him, saying, ' ' Have thou nothing to 
do with that just man ; for I have suffered much this 
day in a dream because of him." This was a warn- 



358 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

ing sent from Gocl, but Pilate paid no heed to it. 
While he was listening to the messenger, however, 
the chief priests and the elders had persuaded the 
multitudes to ask for the release of Barabbas. And 
when the Governor said unto them, ' ' Which of the 
two will I release unto you?" they shouted "Barab- 
bas ! " 

Pilate saith unto them, "What then shall I do 
with Jesus, who is called Christ?" They cried 
out, ' ' Crucify him ! Crucify him ! ' ' Pilate will- 
ing to release him, spoke to them again, but 
they cried the more, "Crucify him! Crucify 
him!" And he said unto them the third time, 
"Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found 
no cause of death in him. I will therefore scourge 
him and let him go." But the mob cried out even 
more loudly, " Crucify him ! Crucify him ! " 

When Pilate saw that his words were of no avail, 
and that there was danger of a disturbance, he took 
water and washed his hands before the multitude, 
saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this right- 
eous man; see ye to it." Then answered all the 
people, and said, ' ' His blood be on us, and our 
children." Then Barabbas Avas set free, and sen- 
tence of death was joassed upon Jesus. Did wash- 
ing of his hands free Pilate from the guilt of 
having shed innocent blood ? Would water cleanse 
his soul from so great a sin ? No. And his crime 
was the greater because he knew Jesus to be an 
innocent man. And this thought still disturbed 
him. 

Jesus was first scourged, and this Roman scourg- 
ing was a fearful punishment, and only inflicted 
upon slaves. The prisoner was stripped to the waist, 
and bound to a post in a stooping posture, so 1 hat 
the skin of the back was tightly stretched. The 
whips were leather straps with bits of lead or of bone 




CHRIST BEFORE THE PEOPLE. 



CRUELTY OF THE SOLDIERS. 361 

made fast to them. These cut into the back, and 
caused such agony that the poor victims frequently 
fainted, and sometimes died. The soldiers who had 
Jesus in charge were not likely to be mild in this 
case, and, oh, what must his sufferings have been 
when under the lash in such cruel hands ? 

But this was not all. The soldiers then took him 
into the room where prisoners were confined, and 
here they amused themselves. They plaited a crown 
of thorns and put it on his head, and they put on 
him a purple robe. And they came unto him with 
mock ceremony, saying, ' ' Hail, King of the Jews ! ' ' 
and giving him blows with their hands. And Pilate 
Avent out again, and saith unto the crowd, "Behold, 
I bring him out unto you, that ye may perceive that 
I find no crime in him." 

Jesus therefore came forth, wearing the crown of 
thorns, and the purple robe, and Pilot saith unto 
them, "Behold the man!" When therefore the 
chief priests and elders saw him, they cried out, 
' ' Crucify him ! Crucify him ! ' ' 

Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and crucify 
him; for I find no crime in him." The Jews 
answered, "We have a law, and by the law he ought 
to die because he made himself Son of God." 
When Pilate heard that, he was more afraid. And 
he went again into the judgment hall, and saith 
unto Jesus, "Whence art thou?" But Jesus made 
him no answer. Then said Pilate, ' ' Wilt thou not 
speak to me % Dost thou not know that I have 
power to release thee, and power to crucify thee?" 
Jesus answered, "Thou wouldst have no power 
against me unless it were given thee from above." 

Upon this Pilate sought even yet to release him; 
but the Jews cried out, saying, "If thou let this 
man go thou art not Caesar's friend. Every one 
who maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar." 



362 



THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 



These words had weight with Pilate, for it was his 
ambition to be on good terms with the Emperor of 
Rome, to be regarded with friendship by the great 
Caesar Augustus, Rather for him the glories of this 




THE WHIPPING POST. 



world, than the honor of being a friend of Jesus. 
And won over by his pride and vanity, he sat down 
once more on the judgment seat at a place called the 
Pavement, where the floor was beautifully laid out 
in mosaic work of small colored stones. 



CRUELTY OF THE SOLDIERS. 



363 



Day was already dawning, when Pilate said unto 
the Jews, " Behold, your King!" But they cried 




SCOURGE. 



out, ' ' Away with him ! Away with him ! Crucify 
him ! " Pilate saith, " Shall I crucify your King? " 



364 THE LIFE OF TESUS CHRIST. 

The chief priests answered, "We have no King but 
Csesar." Then therefore he delivered Jesus up to 
them to be crucified. 



CHAPTER XXYI. 

THE WAY TO THE CROSS — THE CRUCIFIXION — THE 
BURIAL — THE ASCENSION — " HE IS RISEN!" 

The chief priests and elders made no delay, but 
hurried Jesus to his cruel death. The place of 
execution was outside of the city, on a small rise 
of ground, called at that time Golgotha, because 
it was shaped somewhat like a skull. The sol- 
diers having taken off the purple robe, put on him 
his own clothes, and led him forth, he bearing his 
own cross. The cross was heavy and the end of 
it dragged on the ground ; so, looking around, the 
soldiers saw coming across the field a black man 
named Simon, of Cyrene, and him they compelled 
to help Jesus bear the cross. But it was the 
lighter end of the cross he carried, Jesus bearing 
the heavier part on his own shoulders. And so 
it is always. We may be sure that Jesus is help- 
ing us bear all our crosses and trials. 

Heavy though they seem Ave shall not faint 
under them, if we put our trust in him. The 
weight of the cross rests on his shoulders. 

There followed him a great crowd of women, 
who bewailed and lamented him. Not because of 
any affection or friendship they had for Jesus, 
but because of the sympathy of their sex, with 
all those who are afflicted. Some few there may 
have been who had heard Jesus speak at various 
times, and wept and wailed over his cruel fate. 
Jesus, turning to them said, "Daughters of Jeru- 



THE WAY TO THE CROSS. 



365 



salein, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves 
and your children." And lie warned them of the 
ruin that was to come upon Jerusalem, when it 
would be a curse rather than a blessing to be a 
mother. For in that great day of Gfod's wrath, 
they would say to the mountains, " Fall on us," and 
to the hills, "Cover us." This literally took place 
at the destruction of Jerusalem, forty years after 




JESUS CROWNED WITH THORNS. 

the crucifixion, when the Jews hid themselves in 
the underground passages and the sewers of the 
city. 

" If they do these things in the green tree," said 
our Lord, "what shall be done in the dry?" If 
he, the " green tree " and the fruitful vine, could be 
made to suffer thus for sins of which he was inno- 
cent, how ought they, the dry and unfruitful trees 5 



366 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

to suffer for the sins of which they themselves were 
guilty. 

When 'they reached Golgotha Jesus was made 
fast to the cross by nails, which were driven through 
the hands and feet. Then the cross was lifted and 
let fall into the hole dug for it, and this gave to 
the sufferer another and more violent shock. Even 
in the midst of his agony, Jesus thought of the 




CARRYING THE CROSS. 

sinners who nailed him to the cross, and full of 
forgiving love and pity he prayed aloud, ' ' Father, 
forgive them ; for they know not what they do." 
The crowd kept moving about, gazing upon the 
scene, and wagging their heads as they passed by. 
And the chief priests, Scribes, and elders scoffed at 
him, saying, "He saved others; let him save him- 
self, if he be the Christ, the chosen one of God." 




THE CRUCIFIXION. 



THE CRUCIFIXION. 369 

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him 
and offering him the vinegar, or sonr wine, they used 
at their midday meal. For it was now the hour 
of noon. And they said, "If thon art the King 
of the Jews save thyself." 

Now, there were two thieves crncified with Jesus, 
one on his right hand, the other on his left. Over the 
head of each one was written the crime for which he 
suffered ; and Pilate had had put on the cross of 
Jesus, in large letters, JESUS OF NAZARETH, 
KING OF THE JEWS. And this was in Hebrew, 
Latin, and Greek, so that all who passed by might be 
able to read it. 

The chief priests of the Jews, therefore, said to 
Pilate: "Write not 'The King of the Jews,' but 
' The man that said I am king of the Jews.' " Pilate, 
whose sole aim was to mock at them, and their desire 
for a kingdom of their own, answered them : "What 
I have written, I have written." 

One of the thieves, hearing the mob mock at Jesus, 
joined in their taunts, saying : "If thou art the King 
of the Jews, save thyself and us." But the other 
rebuked him, saying : " Dost thou not even fear God, 
seeing thou art suffering the same punishment as this 
one? We, indeed, suffer justly, for we receive the 
due reward of our deeds ; but this man has done no 
wrong." And, repenting of his sins, at this the 
eleventh hour, he said unto Jesus : "Lord, remember 
me when thou comest into thy kingdom ! " And 
Jesus said unto him: "Verily, I say unto thee, 
to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." 

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and his 
mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary 
Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the 
disciple whom he loved standing by her, he saith to 
his mother, "Woman, behold thy son!" And he 
saith to John, "Behold thy mother!" And from 



370 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

that hour the disciple took her into his own home, and 
cared for her all the rest of her life. 

Jesus was crucified at nine o'clock in the morning, 
and at noon, when the sun should have shone the 
brightest, a thick cloud began to gather over the sky, 
and the darkness kept increasing until three o' clock 
in the afternoon, and not a sigh or a groan was heard 
from the sufferer on the cross. He had hung there 
for six long hours, and his sufferings were great. The 
woes of the flesh forced him to cry out, ' ' My God, 
my God, why hast thou forsaken me % " He felt in 
his misery as if God had deserted him. He spoke in 
Hebrew, saying, ' ' Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani % ' ' And 
some of those that stood there said: "This man 
calleth for Elijah." 

There was a bowl there containing the vinegar, and 
straightway one of the soldiers took a sponge, and, 
dipping it into the vinegar, put it on the end of a 
reed, and brought it to his mouth so that he could 
drink. The others tried to stop him, saying, "Let 
him be. Let us see if Elijah cometh to save him." 
But Jesus said with a loud voice, ' ' I thirst ; ' ' and 
when he received the vinegar, he drank it, and said : 
" It is finished." 

The victory was won ! The work he had come to 
do was finished ! And he boAved his head, and yielded 
up his spirit ! 

And there was darkness all over Jerusalem. Deep 
midnight darkness, for there was no light of the sun. 
The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top 
to the bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks 
were broken. The tombs were opened, and the 
bodies of the saints were raised and appeared unto 
many after the resurrection of our Lord. The cen- 
turion, who stood with his soldiers under the cross, 
had witnessed many scenes of horror, but none like 
this. And when he saw and heard what took place 



THE CRUCIFIXION. 373 

it was forced upon his mind and heart that the Jews 
had made a grave mistake. They had not only pun- 
ished an innocent man ; they had done worse. And 
repenting of his own sins, and obeying God's com- 
mand by believing in Jesus, he exclaimed, "Truly 
this was the Son of God ! ' ' 

Nor was the Jewish law that no dead bodies should 
remain unburied over night, nor should any hang 
upon the cross on the Sabbath day. The Jews' 
Sabbath began on Friday evening, at sunset, and 
lasted until sunset of the next day, and there were 
special reasons why they were anxious to bury the 
dead out of their sight. For it was a "high day," 
a holy day in the church, and a sacred part of the 
Passover Feast. Therefore the chief priests and 
elders went to Pilate and begged that the legs of 
those on the cross might be broken and the bodies 
taken away. 

It was slow death to die on the cross, the sufferings 
often lasting, not only for hours, but for days. The 
breaking of the legs, which was done with a club or 
hammer, would not cause death, but would hasten it. 
Pilate consented that this should be done, and the 
soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the 
two thieves, who hung on either side of Jesus. But 
when they came to Jesus and found that he was 
dead already, they broke none of his bones. 

One of the soldiers, fearing that Jesus might not 
be dead, thrust the iron point of his spear into the 
side of him who hung upon the cross, and straight- 
way there came forth blood and water. The blood 
was a sign of the life laid down for the sins of the 
world. The water of the baptism, or gift, of the 
Holy Spirit. 

John must have seen this, for he says in his Gospel : 
" He that saw it bare witness, and his witness is true; 
and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may 



374 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

believe. For these things were done that the Scrip- 
ture might be fulfilled. i A bone of him shall not be 
broken.' * And elsewhere it saith, 'They shall look 
on him whom they pierced.' " f 

Now, there was in Jerusalem a certain rich man 
named Joseph, whose birthplace was at Arimathea. 
Although a member of the Sanhedrin, he was at heart 
a disciple of Jesus, and took no part in his murder. 
Fearing that some harm might be done to the body of 
his Lord by his cruel enemies, he went boldly to 
Pilate, and asked that he might take the body away. 

Pilate wondered if Jesus were already dead ; and 
calling the centurion to him, asked him whether he 
had been dead for any length of time. Finding that 
he had, Pilate gave his consent that Joseph should 
take charge of the body. 

Joseph, and those with him, took the sacred body 
from the cross. After removing from the hands and 
feet those dreadful nails, and wrapping it in fine 
linen cloth, they bore it to the rock-hewn tomb in a 
garden near by. The tomb was new, and no one had 
ever been buried there ; and as Joseph was a rich 
man he had doubtless spent much money in adorning 
this resting-place for the dead. For the garden, or 
cemetery, was quite near the city. 

Afterwards came Mcodemus — he who came to 
Jesus by night — and he brought with him about a 
hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, and they 
embalmed the body, wrapping it in linen clothes 
after the manner in which the Jews prepare their 
dead for burial. 

Then they laid the body inside the tomb, and 
as they went out they rolled the large stone to 
close the entrance, and fixed it so it would not 



* Psalms xxxiv. 20. 

f Zach. xii. 10. Rev. i. 7. 




THE PESCENT FROaj THE CROSS, 



THE BURIAL. 



377 



fall. For the next day, Sunday though it was, 
the Jews would place their seal upon the tomb 
so that the door could not be opened without 
their knowing it. 




LAYING JESUS IN THE TOMB. 

The crowd who had watched the crucifixion had 
gone to their several homes, all except the few 
faithful women who had come with Jesus of Gal- 
ilee. These watched to see what was done with 



378 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

Jesus, and when they saw where his body was 
laid, and with what haste it had been buried, 
they went away to prepare spices and ointments 
to still further anoint it. 

The next day, which was the Jewish Sabbath, 
the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate, 
saying, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said 
while he was yet alive, 'After three days I rise 
again.' Command therefore that the sepulchre be 
made sure until the third day, lest his disciples 
come and steal him away, and say unto the people, 
' He is risen from the dead.' The last deceit then 
will be worse than the first." 

Pilate said unto them, ' ' Take a guard of soldiers, 
and make it as sure as ye know how." So they 
went, and stretching a string across the great stone 
they sealed it to the rock at either end with wax, 
and left the soldiers there to watch the tomb. 

Early the next morning, while it was yet dark, 
the women set out for the tomb in the garden 
with their spices to anoint the body of Jesus. And 
while they were on the way there came a great 
earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended 
from heaven and came and rolled away the great 
stone and sat upon it. His appearance was dazzling, 
and his garments as white as snow; and at sight of 
him the watchers quaked with fear, and became as 
dead men. 

Mary Magdalene, in her haste, was first at the 
tomb; and seeing the stone rolled away, she stopped 
not to ask questions, but ran at once to Peter and 
John, and said unto them, ' ' They have taken the 
Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where 
they have laid him." 

Meanwhile the other women on reaching the 
tomb, and seeing the stone rolled away, and the 
angel seated upon it, were in great terror. But the 



HE IS RISEN. 



379 



angel said to them, "Be not afraid, for I know 
that ye seek Jesns, who hath been crucified: He is 
not here; for he is risen even as he said. Come, 
see the place where the Lord lay, and go tell his 




HE IS RISEN. 



disciples that he is risen from the dead, and lo, he 
goeth before yon into Galilee. There shall ye see 
him; lo, I have told yon." And they departed 
from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran 



380 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

to tell his disciples. And as they went, Jesus met 
them, and saluted them, saying, "All hail!" 
And they came and took hold of his feet, and 
worshiped him. Then saith Jesus to them, 
"Fear not; go and tell my brethren, that they 
depart into Galilee, and there they shall see 
me." 

When Mary Magdalene told Peter and John that 
the Lord had been taken away, both of the dis- 
ciples set out to the tomb to see if her words 
were true. They ran all the way, but John, being a 
younger man, outran Peter, and came first to the 
place. And stooping down and looking in, and 
seeing the linen clothes lying about, he was filled 
with awe and dared not enter. 

Not so Peter, however. As soon as he came 
up, he went at once into the tomb, and 
seeth the linen clothes lying there. And lie saw 
also, what John had not seen, that the napkin 
which had been bound upon his head was laid 
carefully in a place by itself. Peter's boldness 
gave courage to John, and he went into the tomb, 
and saw that Jesus had not been taken away by 
human hands. All doubts and fears were at rest, 
and John believed now more fully than ever that 
he was indeed the Son of God. For not even yet 
had they learned that he must rise again from the 
dead. Therefore, believing that it was of no use 
to search for him, the two disciples left the gar- 
den and went back to their own homes. 

Mary had followed them when they first ran to 
the tomb, but failing to keep up with them, did 
not reach there until after they had left. And 
she stood weeping and lamenting, and as she 
wiped the tears from her eyes, she stooped 
down, and looking into the tomb, beheld two 
angels in white sitting there, one at the head 




JESUS APPEARING TO MARY MAGDALEN. 



HE IS RISEN. 383 

and the other at the feet, where the body of 
Jesus had lain. And they said nnto her, " Woman, 
why weepest thou % ' ' She said, ' ' They have taken 
away my Lord, and I know not where they have 
laid him." When she had thus said, she turned 
around, and beheld Jesus standing near, but did 
not know that it was Jesus. 

Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, why weepest 
thou ? Whom seekest thou \ ' ' She, supposing him 
to be the gardener, saith unto him, " Sir, if thou 
didst bear him hence, tell me where thou hast 
laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus saith 
unto her, "Mary." She turneth herself, and with 
the glad cry of " Rabboni ! — Master ! " — would fain 
have fallen at his feet and held him fast in her 
grasp. Jesus said unto her, "Touch me not; for 
I am not yet ascended to the Father; but go to 
my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto 
my Father and your Father; and my God and 
your God." And Mary Magdalene came and said 
to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" and 
told them what he had said unto her. 

In the meantime some of the soldiers who had 
been on guard came into the city, and told the 
chief priests all that had taken place. And they 
called a meeting of the Sanhedrin, and took counsel 
together, and gave a large sum of money to the 
soldiers, telling them to say that the disciples of 
Jesus came by night and stole him away while 
they slept. 

But it is a crime punished with death for a 
soldier to fall asleep at his post, and the soldiers 
were unwilling to run any such risk. But the chief 
priests and elders said that if Pilate took any notice 
of the matter they would make it all right with 
him, and no harm whatever should come to the 
soldiers. So they took the money that was given 



584 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

them, and did as they were told. And for a long 
time the JeAvs believed that the body of Jesus 
had been taken away by his disciples, and that 
he had not risen from the dead. 



CHAPTER XXVIL 

EASTER SUNDAY — THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB — PETER 
AND JOHN — WHY WEEPEST THOU \ — THE AVALK 
TO EMMAUS — JESUS SHOAVS HIMSELF TO HIS 
DISCIPLES — DOUBTINGr THOMAS — THE HEAVY 
NET — " FEED MY LAMBS " — THE DAY OF PENTE- 
COST. 

On the afternoon of that Easter Sunday, on which 
Jesus rose from the dead, tAvo of the disciples left the 
circle of friends, and went out of the city. Passing 
out through the Avestern gate, and turning to the 
north, they wandered along by the quiet nooks, the 
lovely gardens, enjoying the sweet fragrance in the 
air, and talking over the events of the day. They 
Avere on their way to Emmaus, a village about eight 
miles from Jerusalem ; and as they Avalked they 
spoke of the report sent out by the soldiers — that the 
grave had been robbed of its dead — and they won- 
dered Avhat effect this would have, and who was to 
lead them in their work. 

While they thus talked, Jesus dreAv near and went 
along with them for some time before he spoke. But 
they did not knoAv him. He is often near us, and we 
do not know him. Doubts and fears dim our sight. 
And he said to them, ' ' What disputes are ye having 
with one another ? and why are ye so sad \ ' ' And 
one of them, named Cleophas, said unto him: " Art 
thou so much of a stranger in Jerusalem that thou 
dost not not know the things that are taking place 
there % ' ' Jesus said ; ' ' What things \ ' ? 



EASTER SUNDAY. 385 

And they said unto him, "The things concerning 
Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in 
deed and word before God and all the people. And 
how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up 
to death, and crucified him. But we hoped that it 
was he who should redeem Israel. Yea, and beside 
all this, it is now the third day since these things 
came to pass. Moreover, certain women of our com- 
pany amazed us, having been early to the tomb, and 
not finding his body, they came, saying that they had 
seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 
And certain of them that were with us went to the 
tomb, and found it even as the women had said. But 
they saw not Jesus. 

Then Jesus spoke to the two with whom he was 
walking, saying: "Foolish men, and slow to believe 
in all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not 
Christ to have suffered these things, and enter into his 
glory ? ' ' And beginning with Moses and all the 
prophets, he explained every passage of Scripture 
that bore any relation to himself. How clear they 
seemed with this light thrown upon them ! 

All too soon they drew near to the village of 
Emmaus, and the stranger made as if he would go on 
further. But Cleophas and Luke could not part with 
him. They urged him to stay and spend the night with 
them. "Abide with us," they said, "for it is toward 
evening, and the day is even now far spent," And 
he consented, and went into the house to be their 
guest. And as they sat down to supper, the stranger 
taking the loaf of bread, he blessed, and breaking it, 
he gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and 
they knew him ; and he vanished out of their sight. 
But there was no trace of sadness on their faces now. 
All was light and joy. He had risen, indeed ! And 
they said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn 
within us while he talked with us, and opened to us 



386 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, 

the Scriptures ? ' ' And that very hour they returned 
to Jerusalem to tell the glad tidings to the rest of the 
disciples. 

On account of their fear of the Jews, the disci- 
ples met secretly in a room in a quiet part of the 
city. And on this Easter Sunday evening, they were 
gathered together, when the two from Emmaus 
arrived. The doors were shut to prevent any sur- 
prise, when suddenly Jesus came and stood among 
the disciples, and said unto them, ' ' Peace be unto 
you." But they were terrified, and thought that they 
beheld a spirit. And he said unto them, "Why 
are ye troubled? and wherefore do doubts arise in 
your heart ? Behold my hands and my feet. Handle 
me and see for yourselves ; for a spirit hath not 
flesh and bones." And when he had said this he 
showed them his hands and his feet. And while 
they were still unbelieving for joy and wonder, he 
said unto them, "Have ye here anything to eat?" 
And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he 
took it and did eat before them. 

Then were the disciples glad when they saw it 
was their Lord. Jesus therefore said unto them 
again, "Peace be unto you. As the Father hath 
sent me, so I also send you." And when he had 
said this he breathed on them, and saith unto them, 
' ' Receive the Holy Spirit. Whosesoever sins ye 
forgive they shall be forgiven, and whosesoever 
sins ye do not forgive they shall not be forgiven." 

This was the power given unto the Church of 
Christ on earth, a promise that Jesus would be with 
them to strengthen their own souls, and to help 
them do his work. 

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them 
when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said 
unto him, "We have seen the Lord." But Thomas 
said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of 



DOUBTING THOMAS. 



387 



the nails, and put my linger into the print of the 
nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not 
believe." 

The next Sunday the disciples met together in 
the same room, and Thomas was with them. When 
the doors were shut, Jesus appeared in the midst of 
his disciples, with the well-known salutation, " Peace 




THE INCREDULITY OF THOMAS. 

be unto you!" Then saith he to Thomas, "Reach 
hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach out 
thy hand and put it into my side ; and be not faith- 
less, but believing." 

Thomas, fully convinced, cried out in the rapture 
of his soul, "My Lord and my God ! " Jesus saith 
unto him, "Because thou hast seen me thou hast 






388 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

believed ; happy are they that have not seen, and 
yet have believed." 

After these things the eleven disciples went into 
Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had said 
he would meet them. And when he came they 
worshiped him. But there was still some among 
those whom Jesus had taught, who doubted that 
he had risen from the dead. And he came near 
to them, and spoke unto them, saying, "All 
power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. 
Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the 
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teach- 
ing them all things whatsoever I commanded you." 
And to give his disciples fresh strength and cour- 
age, he said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto 
the end of the world ! " 

Many other signs did Jesus in the presence of 
his disciples, which are not written down in the 
New Testament. "The half has not been told." 
But these are written that ye may believe that Jesus 
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing 
ye may have life in his name. 

One morning seven of the disciples went down 
to the Sea of Galilee near which they made their 
home. There were together, Simon Peter, Thomas 
called Didymus, Nathaniel, of Cana, in Galilee, 
James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, and two 
other disciples. It was at night, and there had been 
some talk as to what they should do. 

Peter settled the case for himself, by saying, "I 
go a-hshing." The others say, " We will come with 
thee." They went into the boat, and pulled out 
from shore, and though they spent the whole night 
on the lake they caught nothing. 

As the day began to break Jesus stood on the 
shore; but the disciples did not recognize him. 



THE HE A V Y NET. 39I 

They might have seen the figure of a man, but did 
not know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said, 
unto them, ' ' Children, have ye anything to eat ! ' ' 
They answered, "No." And he said to them, 
' ' Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and 
ye shall find." They cast, therefore, and had not 
strength to draw it in for the multitude of fishes. 

That disciple whom Jesus loved, saith unto Peter, 
"It is the Lord!" When Peter heard this, he 
tied his fisher' s coat about him, for he was naked, 
and did cast himself at once into the sea. The 
others followed in the little boat, for they were 
not far from land, dragging the net full of fishes. 
As soon as they came to shore, they saw there a 
fire of charcoal, and a fish laid thereon and a 
loaf of bread. 

Jesus said unto them, " Bring the fishes which ye 
have now caught. Peter, therefore, went up to help 
them, and they drew the net to the land full of great 
fishes, to the number of a hundred and fifty-three. 
And for all there were so many, yet the net was not 
broken. 

This net is a type of the Gospel net which is to be cast 
out into the world to catch sinners. There are many 
meshes in a net, each one strengthened by cords and 
knots, so that the fish cannot break through. And 
there are also many churches in the world for the 
gathering in of saints and sinners. And as all these 
meshes in the net are held together by one great cord 
of love which strengthens it, so is it with the churches, 
where Christ is worshiped. The more sinners that 
are brought in, the stronger is the net. 

If we do not catch men as we ought, we may be 
sure that we are not on the right side of the boat, and 
we must not only wait for orders, but ask for them in 
prayer. We must make our wants known, and God 
will surely give us all we need. 



392 the Life of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus saith tinto them, "Come and break your 
fast." With reverent awe they accepted the invita- 
tion, not daring to inquire, " Who art thou?" so well 
did they kfrOw it "was the Lord. Jesus then came, 
and taking the loaf, gave to each one a portion of the 
feread and a piece of the fish. And this is the third 
time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, after he 
was raised from the dead. 

After they had breakfasted, Jesus saith to Simon 
Peter, ' ' Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more 
than these % " He saith unto him, " Yea, Lord ; thou 
knowest that I love thee." Jesus saith unto him,, 
"Feed my lambs." He saith to him a second time,, 
"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" Peter 
answered, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love- 
thee." Jesus said unto him, "Feed my sheep." He 
saith unto him the third time, " Simon, son of Jonas, 
lovest thou me ? " Peter was grieved because he said 
unto him the third time, "Lovest thou me?" And 
he answered, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou 
knowest that I love thee." Jesus said unto him, 
"Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee,, 
when thou wert younger thou didst gird thyself, and 
wert free to walk wherever thou didst choose. But 
when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy 
hands, and another shall gird thee, and bear thee 
where thou wouldst not choose to go." This he said 
signifying by what manner of death he should glorify 
God. And when he had thus spoken, he said unto 
Peter, "Follow me." 

Peter rose to do so, but turning around saw another' 
following. This was John the disciple whom Jesus 
loved, and who leaned back at the Lord' s Supper, and. 
asked who was to betray him. 

Peter seeing John following, saith unto Jesus v 
"Lord, what of this man? What is to be his fate?" 
Jesus answered, " If I will that he wait until I come> 




THE COMING OF THE HOLY GHOST. 



"FEED MY LAMBS." 395 

what is that to thee % Follow thou me." This word 
therefore went forth among the brethren that John 
was not to die, but was to wait patiently for the Sec- 
ond Coming of the Lord, when he would be borne 
upward as were Enoch and Elijah, to the land of rest 
above. Yet Jesus said not unto him, "He dieth 
not; but, if I will that he wait till I come, what is 
that to thee?" 

Peter loved the Lord. Three times had he denied 
him, and three times was he forced to answer the 
question ' ' Lovest thou me % ' ' His after life was one 
of struggle and endeavor to walk in the footsteps of 
his Master, and to win souls for Christ. Feed my 
sheep, Feed my lambs, and Follow me, was his three- 
fold order, and he taught with great power through- 
out the land, and old and young were brought into 
the Church of Christ. The date of his death is not 
known, but is supposed to have been at the same time 
and place as that of St. Paul. He was sentenced to be 
crucified; and in his humility he prayed that he 
might be nailed to the cross with his head downward, 
that his death might exceed in shame that of his dear 
Lord and Master. John also had his life-work, and 
suffered many trials which he bore with Christian 
patience and resignation. Because of his preaching 
he was banished by the Roman Emperor, Domitian, to 
the lonely Isle of Patmos; and there he had a vision 
of the glory prepared for those who love the Lord. 
This Revelation he wrote down and sent out, that all 
believers everywhere might be comforted and 
strengthened thereby. 

Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, and 
for forty days thereafter showed himself to the 
apostles at various times and places. And on one 
occasion he said to them, ' ' These are my words 
which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, 
that all things must come to pass which are written 



396 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. 

in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets and 
Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their minds 
that they might understand the Scriptures. And he 
said unto them, "Thus it is written, that Christ 
should suffer death, and rise again on the third 
day. And that repentance and forgiveness of sins 
should be preached in his name throughout the 
whole world, beginning at Jerusalem. Ye are wit- 
nesses of these things. And behold I send forth 
the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye 
in the city until ye be gifted with the power from 
on high." 

And when he had said these words, he led them 
out upon the Mount of Olives and over the brow of 
the hill, towards Bethany. Then lifting up his hands 
he blessed them, and while he blessed them, he 
parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. 
And they fell down and worshiped him, and returned 
to Jerusalem with great joy. They spent much time 
in prayer, blessing God for the promise of the 
Holy Spirit, and this promise was granted them not 
long after Jesus appeared to them for the last time. 

The disciples to the number of one hundred and 
twenty, were in the room where they were wont 
to meet, and with them were the women who were 
" last at the cross and first at the grave." And 
suddenly there was the sound of a rushing wind, 
that seemed to fill all the house. And at the same 
time were seen forked tongues of flame that settled 
like a crown of fire on the head of each one pres- 
ent. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, 
for each one felt in himself new strength and love, 
and with a wild outburst of joy gave thanks and 
praise to God. This day was called Pentecost, 
which meant the fiftieth day, and from that time 
began the first preaching with a view to building- 
up the Church of Christ. In some of the churches at 




THE ASCENSION. 



THE DAY OF PENTECOST. 399 

this present day, it is known as Whitsunday, or 
White Sunday, because of the white dresses worn 
by the young girls who come to be baptized. 

Ten years after the Crucifixion, a church was estab- 
lished at Antioch, where the Gospel was preached 
with great success. And to distinguish them from 
the other Jews, who still held to the old faith and the 
old forms, the people of Antioch gave the name of 
Christians to these followers of the Lord. 

Jesus, though not in sight, is still very near to all 
those who put their trust in him. He says unto all 
those weary of the sins of the world, ' ' Come unto 
me, and I will give you rest." 

To those who are lonely and sad, he says, " Lo, I 
am with you alway ; even unto the end of the world, 
I will not leave thee nor forsake thee." There is 
always a chance for us to do loving service ; but we 
must be willing to do it in the Lord's way, and not 
in our own way. It is when we work against him 
that we get into trouble. 

Always at the door of your heart is one who stands 
knocking, saying, "Come, Open, Let me in." Every- 
where, if we listen, we will hear the loving call; in 
the night time, in the dark hours, in the midst of 
sorrow and pain. The winds say it, the tides say it, 
as they bring the word from heathen lands, "Come 
over and help us ! " The vineyards and the harvest 
fields cry, ' ' Come, gather us in ! Gather us in ! " 

It is a call to work, to suffering maybe, to daily 
cross-bearing and hardships ; but when we think of 
all that Jesus did for us, how poor seems any return 
we can make. All he asks is that we pay the debt with 
love. More love for Christ, more love for our fellow- 
men, and less love for self, will make earth seem a 
little heaven below ; ' ' and hapjjy are they who 
early give their hearts to him, and Follow Jesus all 
their lives, 



INDEX. 



JEnon, John the Baptist at, 71 
Amen, meaning of word, 18S 
Andrew becomes a disciple of Jesus, 
58 
chosen an Apostle by Jesus, 96 
feeds the multitude, 170 
informs Jesus some Greeks seek 

him, 303 
. asks Jesus for a sign of his second 
advent, 320 
Angel (An) foretells to Mary birth of 
Jesus, 5 
announces birth of Jesus to shep- 
herds, 9 
warns Joseph to take Jesus to 

Egypt, 17 
bids Joseph bring back Jesus to 

Judea, 21 
foretells to Zachariah birth of 

John, 45-46 
appears to Jesus in Gethsemane, 

347 
removes stone from entrance to 

sepulchre of Jesus, 378 
tells the women that Jesus is risen, 
379 
Anna, a witness to Simeon's words, 14 
Annas, Jesus taken before, 351 
Antioch, church established at, 399 
Antipas. See Herod Antipas 
Antonia, Tower of, 38 
Apostles, names of, 96, 152 
power given to, 152 
sent to preach to the Jews, 152 
instructions to, 152-156 
return from their mission, 168 
go with Jesus to Bethsaida, 169 
asked by Jesus if they would leave 

him, 181 
jealous of Peter, James and John, 

209 
displeased with James and John, 

289 
strife among them as to which 

would be greatest, 331 
at the Last Supper, 331 
Jesus washes feet of, 332 
Jesus foretells their desertion, 344 
their desertion of him, 351 
Jesus appears before them after his 
death, 380, 386, 388, 395 
Archelaus, son of Herod, 21, 163 
Ark containing the Law and the 
Prophets, 81 



I Ascension of Jesus, 396 
Ashes strewn on the head to denote 

sorrow, 120 
Ass, Jesus enters Jerusalem on, 298 
Augustus (Emperor) takes census of 
Jews, 5 
Herod seeks to please, 14 



Baptism of Jesus by John, 50 

Jesus commands, 3^8 
Barabbas released by Pilate, 358 
Barley raised in the East, 183 
Bartholomew chosen an Apostle by 

Jesus, 96 
Bartimeus, Jesus restores sight of, 293 
Bathing frequent among the Jews, 50 
Beatitudes. See Sermon on the Mount 
Beelzebub, the prince of devils, 154 
Bethany, Jesus goes to, 295 

situation of, 273 
Bethesda, pool of, 158 
Bethlehem, Jesus born at, 6 

brought back to, 14 

murder of boys by Herod in, 18 
Bethpage, Jesus draws near, 298 
Bethsaida upbraided for its sins, 120, 
220 

Jesus goes with his Apostles to, 169 
Bible, verses of it learned by Jewish 
children, 25 

their principal text-book when 
young, 26 
Blasphemy, Jesus discourses on, 190 
Blind made to see. See Miracles 
Bottles, leathern, 144 
Burial customs, 373 
Burying-ground. See Potter's Field 



Caesarea Philippi, Jesus goes to, 203 
Caiaphas urges Jews to kill Jesus, 284 

plots death of Jesus, 327 

Jesus taken before, 352 

questions Jesus, 352-353 
Camel's hair, clothes made of, 49 
Camels used only by the rich, 298 
Cana, the marriage at, 62 
Capernaum, Jesus heals boy at, 79 

Jesus teaches at, 88 

upbraided by Jesus for its sins, 120, 
221 

Jesus teaches in synagogue of, 18Q' 
Census of Jews, 5 



402 



INDEX. 



Centurion's servant healed by Jesus, 

114-116 
Cephas, Peter so called by Jesus, 58 
Chest. See Holy Chest 
Children blessed by Jesus, 209, 269 
Chorazin upbraided by Jesus for its 

sins, 120, 220 
Christ. See Jesus 
Cities upbraided by Jesus for their 

sins, 120, 220-221 
Cleophas, Jesus appears before, 384 
Commandments repeated by Jesus, 

278 
Jesus gives the two great, 315 
Jesus gives a new one, 340 
Communion instituted by Jesus at 

the Last Supper, 337 
Corn not raised in the East, 183 
Courts, the Sanhedrim, 70 
Covetousness, Jesus discourses on, 194 
Creed of Jews, 83 

Crucifixion, slowness of death by, 373 
Crucifixion of Jesus, 364-370 

foretold by him, 327 
Crucifixion of Peter, 395 



Dalmanutha, Jesus goes to, 202 
Damascus Gate of the Temple, 38 
David, building of Temple planned 
by, 30 
shew-bread eaten by him, 183-184 
Dead restored to life, 117-118, 148, 

281-284 
Deaf made to hear. See Miracles 
Death. See Crucifixion 
Decapolis, 140 

Jesus passes through, 200 
Dedication of the Temple, Feast of, 

245, 277 
Devil. See Satan 
Dinner customs in the East, 123 
Disciples, Jesus chooses twelve Apos- 
tles from, 96, 152 
he sends forth seventy of them on 

a mission, 216-219 
the seventy given power over evil 
spirits, 244 
Dives and Lazarus, parable of, 263 
Domitian banishes John the Apostle 

to Patmos, 395 
Dove, Spirit of God takes form of, 50 



East. See Orientals 
Easter Sunday, 384 
Education of Jewish children, 22-30 
Egypt, Jesus taken to, 17-18 
Elijah sent to Zarephath, 86 
declared by Jesus to be John the 

Baptist, 119, 207 
seen with Jesus at the transfigura- 
tion, 206 
Elizabeth, mother of John the Bap- 
tist, 45-46 



Emmaus, situation of, 384 
Ephraim, Jesus goes to, 284 
Esther, Queen, 157 
Eucharist. See Communion 



Fasting, teaching of Jesus about, 105 
Feasts of the Jews, boys required to 
attend, 29 
See also Dedication, Marriage, Pass- 
over, Purim, Tabernacles 
Feet. See Washing 
Fig-tree withered by Jesus, 307 

parable of, 245 
Fishes, miraculous draughts of, 95, 391 
Flood (The), 267 

Forgiveness, Jesus commands, 270 
of sin, Jesus grants Apostles power 
of, 387 



Gabriel, the angel who foretold birth 

of John, 46 
Gadara, Jesus visits, 138 
Galileans quarrel with Pilate's sol- 
diers, 244 

ingratitude of, 288 
Galilee divided from Judea by Jor- 
dan, 5 
Galilee, Sea of, 92 

its width, 138 

Jesus cures sick at, 175 

Same as Lake Gennesaret 
Gennesaret, Lake. See Galilee, Sea of 
Gentiles, blessings bestowed upon, 87 

meaning of word, 198 
Gergesa, 140 

Gerizim (Mt.), temple on, 73 
Gethsemane, Jesus goes to, 344 
Ghost. See Holy Ghost 
Golden rule, 109 
Golgotha, scene of the crucifixion, 364 



Hallel, Psalms of David, 226 

Haman, 158 

Hands. See Washing 

Harvest time in Palestine, 78 

Hearing restored to the deaf. See 

Miracles 
Hebrews. See Jews 
Hermon (Mt.), Jesus ascends, 206 
Herod the Great made governor of 
the Jews, 1 

his iron rule, 14 

seeks to destroy Jesus, 17 

slays all the young boys in Beth- 
lehem, 18 

rebuilds the Temple, 34 
Herod Antipas (his son) imprisons 
John the Baptist, 118, 163 

marries Herodias, 164 

beheads John, 167 

wishes to see Jesus, 168 

Jesus led before, 357 



INDEX. 



403 



Herod Antipas mocks Jesus and sends 
him back to Pilate, 357 
his death, 169 
Herod Philip, husband of Herodias, 
163 
made governor of Csesarea Philippi, 
203 
Herodias, wife of Philip, 163 
marries Antipas, 164 
causes death of John, 167 
Hiram assists Solomon to build the 

Temple, 33 
Holy Chest, depository of the Law 

and the Prophets, 81 
Holy Ghost, coming of, 396 
typified by pouring water on the 

altar, 226 
foretold by Jesus, 339 
Holy Land. See Palestine 
Horses used only in war, 298 
Hospitality in the East, 123 
Houses in the East, 2 
Hypocrisy, Jesus discourses on, 194 



Immortality, disbelief of Sadducees 

in, 315 
Isaiah, his prophecy of John the Bap- 
tist, 49 
his prophecies read by Jesus in the 

synagogue, 84 
his prophecy as to sympathy of 

Jesus, 91 
a praise song from, 226 
Israelites. See Jews ■ 



Jacob's well, Jesus rests at, 73 
Jaffa Gate of the Temple, 38 
Jairus, his daughter restored to life, 

147-148 
James (son of Alpheus) chosen an 

Apostle by Jesus, 96 
James (son of Zebedee) becomes a 
disciple of Jesus, 61 
chosen an Apostle by Jesus, 96 
beholds transfiguration of Jesus, 206 
disciples jealous of, 209 
his anger when shelter and food are 

refused Jesus, 219 
Ms sufferings for cause of Jesus, 289 
asks Jesus for a sign, 320 
Jesus bids him watch with him, 347 
Jesus after his death appears before, 
388 
Jericho, distance from Jerusalem to, 
249 
description of, 290 
Jerusalem as first seen by Jesus, 30 
at Feast of Tabernacles, 223 
Jesus foresees his death in, 247 
entry of Jesus into, 299 
its destruction foretold by Jesus, 

247, 300, 319, 364 
See also Temple 



Jesus, his birth foretold to Mary by 
an angel, 5 
his birth at Bethlehem, 6 
shepherds informed of it by an 

angel, 9 
taken to Jerusalem for presentation 

at the Temple, 10 
visited by Simeon, 10-13 
brought back to Bethlehem, 14 
visited by the wise men, 17 
taken into Egypt to avoid Herod, 

17-18 
brought to Nazareth by Joseph, 

21-22 
his boyhood, 22-30 
taken to the Passover feast, 30 
questions the Rabbis in the Temple, 

38-41 
his probable aid to Joseph in car- 
pentry, 41 
studies nature and men, 41-42 
baptized by John, 50 
spends forty days in wi lderness, 53 
tempted by Satan, 53-54 
returns to the Jordan, 57 
John the Baptist bears witness to 

him, 58 
chooses some of his disciples, 58-61 
changes water into wine, 62 
drives the money-changers out of 

the Temple, 64-66 
tells Nicodemus how to be saved, 

69-70 
jealousy of John's disciples towards, 

71 
labors in Samaria, 73-78 
heais boy at Capernaum, 79 
attends the synagogue at Nazareth, 

81 
conducts the service, 83-86 
driven from Nazareth, 87 
teaches in Capernaum. 88 
casts out evil spirits, 91 
cures Simon's wife's mother, 91 
miraculous draught of fishes, 95 
names of his Apostles, 96 
Sermon on the Mount, 96-113 
heals a leper, 114 
heals centurion's servant, 114-116 
restores the dead to life, 117-118 
preaches concerning John the Bap- 
tist, 118-119 
upbraids unrepentant cities, 120, 

220-221 
visits Simon the Pharisee. 123 
his feet washed by Mary Magdalene, 

124 
his parable of money-lender, 127 
forgives the sins of Mary Magda- 
lene, 128 
his parable of the sower, 129 
that of the wheat and tares, 131 
that of the mustard seed, 132 
that of the leaven, 132 
that of the hidden treasure, 135 



404 



INDEX. 



Jesus, his parable of the pearl, 135 
that of the net, 135 
calms the sea, 138 
casts out evil spirits, 134-140 
heals the paralytic, 142 
eats with publicans, 143 
his parable of new wine and old 

bottles, 141 
heals the sick woman, 114 
restores the dead to life, 148 
restores sight to the blind, 151 
restores speech tc the dumb, 151 
gives Apostles power over evil 

spirits, 152 
instructs Apostles, 152-156 
at the pool of Bethesda, 158 
declares that he is equal with God, 

160-162 
goes with his Apostles to Bethsaida, 

169 
feeds the multitude, 170 
walks on the sea, 172 
cures the sick at G-ennesaret, 175 
preaches faith to the Jews, 176-180 
foretells treachery of Judas, 181 
accuses Jews of hypocrisy, 182 
on Sabbath-keeping, 183-184 
restores a withered hand, 186 
teaches the Lord's Prayer, 187-188 
heals a demoniac, 189 
discourses on blasphemy, 190 
foretells his resurrection, 191, 205, 

288 
rebukes the Pharisees, 192 
rebukes lawyers, 193 
discourses on hypocrisy and covet- 

ousness, 194 
his parable of the rich man, 195 
warns his disciples to be always 

ready, 196 
shows that faithfulness will be re- 
warded, 197 
goes to Tyre and Sidon, 198 
heals daughter of Syro-Phcenician 

woman, 200 
restores speech to the dumb, 201 
feeds the multitude, 201 
enmity of Pharisees and Sadducees 

to, 202 
restores sight to the blind, 203 
declares that upon Peter he would 

build his church, 204 
rebukes Peter, 205 
his transfiguration, 206 
declares John the Baptist to be 

Elijah, 207 
drives out evil spirits, 208 
blesses little children, 209, 269 
declares his disciples must become 

as little children, 209-212 
bids them cut off hand or foot if it 

offends, 213 
on paying taxes, 214-215 
sends forth seventy disciples, 216- 

219 



Jesus refused food and shelter, 219 
declares he came to save, not to de- 
stroy, 220 
declares he has no place to lay his 

head, 222 
goes to Jerusalem, 223 
teaches in the Temple, 224 
priests order him to be seized, 225, 

230 
accuses Jews of keeping the letter 
and not the spirit of the law, 225 
calls upon all who thirst to come 

unto him, 229 
again teaches in the Temple, 231- 

235 
Jews seek to stone him, 235 
restores sight to the blind, 236 
accused by Jews of breaking Sab- 
bath, 239 
parable of the sheep-fold, 242 
leaves Jerusalem, 244 
parable of the fig-tree, 245 
foretells destruction of Jerusalem, 

247, 300, 319, 364 
parable of good Samaritan, 24S 
heals man with the dropsy, 250 
parable of the marriage feast, 250 
parable of the great supper. 253 
parable of the lost sheep, 254 
parable of lost piece of silver, 256 
parable of prodigal son, 257 
parable of unjust steward, 260 
rebukes the Pharisees, 262 
parable of Dives and Lazarus 263 
declares the kingdom of God is in 

the heart, 264 
parable of the unrighteous judge, 

268 
parable of the Pharisee and pub- 
lican, 268 
parable of the king and servant, 270 
visits Martha and Mary, 273 
reproves Martha, 277 
repeats the commandments, 278 
tells how to be saved, 279 
parable of the vineyard, 280 
restores Lazarus to life, 281-281 
goes to Ephraim, 284 
heals the lepers, 287-288 
declares that he came to ransom 

others, 289 
passes through Jericho, 290 
lodges with Zaccheus, 293 
restores sight of Bartimeus, 293 
parable of the pounds, 291 
reaches Bethany, 295 
anointed with precious oil by Mary, 

296 
sends Peter and John for a wild 

ass, 298 
enters Jerusalem on the ass, 299 
again cleanses the Temple, 303 
a voice from heaven declares that 

he will be glorified, 303 
returns to Mt. of Olives, 304 



INDEX. 



405 



Jesus withers the fig-tree, 307 
Jews question his authority to 

teach, 308 
parable of the vineyard, 308 
declares the kingdom of God shall 

be taken from the Jews, 309 
declares it is right to pay just 

taxes, 310 
the widow's mite, 311 
declares there will be no marriage 

in the resurrection, 312 
the two great commandments, 315 
condemns the Scribes and Pharisees, 

316 
warns Apostles of their coming 

trials, 320 
parable of the virgins, 320 
parable of the talents, 323 
speaks of the glory of his triumph, 

325 
condemns the uncharitable, 326 
foretells his crucifixion, 327 
Judas agrees to betray him, 327-328 
sends Peter and John to prepare 

the Passover, 331 
sits down to the Last Supper, 331 
washes feet' of Apostles, 332 
tells them that Judas will betray 

him, 333 
institutes communion, 337 
tells Peter he will deny him, 337, 347 
bids his disciples keep his com- 
mandments, 338 
foretells the coming of the Holy 

G-host, 339 
parable of the vine, 340 
gives a new commandment, 340 
foretells persecutions of his disci- 
ples, 341 
his prayer to God, 342-343 
a hymn is sung, 344 
goes to Gethsemane, 344 
tells his disciples they will forsake 

him, 344 
prays apart at Gethsemane, 347 
an angel appears to him, 347 
betrayed by Judas, 348 
heals wound of servant, 351 
forsaken by his disciples, 351 
taken before Annas, 351 
sent bound to Caiaphas, 352 
questioned by Caiaphas, 352 
denied by Peter thrice, 352, 354 
struck by a soldier, 353 
declares he is the Son of God, 353 
blindfolded and spit upon by sol- 
diers. 353 
led before Pilate, 354 
Pilate questions his accusers, 355 
questioned by Pilate, 356 
sent by Pilate to Herod, 357 
mocked by Herod and sent back to 

Pilate, 357 
sentenced by Pilate, 357 
scourged by the Romans, 358 



Jesus crowned with thorns and 
mocked, 361 
Pilate seeks to release him, 361 
delivered to the Jews, 364 
bears his own cross, 364 
taken to Golgotha, 366 
his crucifixion, 366 
offered vinegar for drink, 369 
placed between two thieves, 369 
inscription over his head, 369 
pardons the penitent thief, 369 
commends his mother to John, 369 
his thirst assuaged "with vinegar, 

370 
his last words, 370 
his death, 370 
phenomena at time of his death, 

370 
spear thrust in his side, 373. 
his body placed in a sepulchre, 374 
angel removes stone from entrance 

to sepulchre, 378 
his resurrection, 379 
appears to his disciples, 380 
appears to Mary Magdalene, 383 
Jews believed his body stolen by 

his disciples, 384 
appears before Cleophas and Luke, 

384 
appears before the Apostles and 
grants them power to forgive 
sins, 386 
convinces Thomas he is Christ, 387 
appears again before the Apostles 
and commands them to baptize 
all disciples, 388 
appears before seven Apostles, 388 
the draught of fishes, 391 
bids Peter follow him, 392 
shows himself at various places, 395 
his ascension, 396 
Jews, their condition at birth of 
Christ, 1-5 
their fear of Herod, 17 
education of their children, 22-30 
commanded to bathe often, 50 
their hatred of Samaritans, 73, 234 
religious service of, 80-82 
creed of, 83 

drive Jesus from synagogue, 87 
their hatred of taxes, 95 
Jesus bids Apostles preach to, 152 
their custom of washing their 

hands before meals, 182 
their strictness in keeping the Sab- 
bath, 183 
pour water on the altar, 226 
attempt to seize Jesus, 225-230 
seek to stone Jesus, 235, 278 
accuse Jesus of breaking the Sab- 
bath, 239 
expulsion from synagogue a pun- 
ishment among, 240 
forbidden to eat flesh of swine, 259 
ask Jesus if he is Christ, 277 



406 



IXDEX. 



Jews, theological studies of, 308 
Jesus declares kingdom of God 

shall be taken from, 309 
Paschal lamb, how eaten by, 331 
believed the disciples took away 

body of Jesus, 384 
See also Pharisees, Sadducees 
John (the Apostle) becomes a disci- 
ple of Jesus, 61 
chosen an Apostle by Jesus, 96 
beholds transfiguration of Jesus, 206 
other disciples jealous of, 209 
questions Jesus, 210 
his anger when shelter and food are 

refused Jesus, 219 
sent by Jesus for wild ass, 298 
asks Jesus for a sign of his second 

advent, 320 
sent by Jesus to prepare Passover, 

331 
called the beloved disciple, 333 
asks Jesus who is to betray him, 334 
Jesus bids him watch with him, 347 
accompanies Jesus before Caiaphas, 

352 
takes care of mother of Jesus, 369- 

370 
finds Jesus risen from the dead, 380 
Jesus appears before, 388 
recognizes Jesus, 391 
Apostles believed he was not to die, 

395 
Revelation written by him, 395 
John the Baptist, his birth as fore- 
told by an angel, 45-46 
begins preaching in the wilderness 

of Judea, 49 
baptizes Jesus, 50 
bears witness to Jesus, 57-58, 161 
his disciples jealous of Jesus, 71 
declares himself only the messenger 

of Jesus, 72 
Pharisees compare his teaching with 

that of Jesu-, 73 
imprisoned by Herod, 118, 163 
Jesus preaches about him, 118-119 
offends Herodias, 164 
for brief time doubts divinity of 

Christ, 164 
is beheaded, 167 

declared by Jesus to be Elijah, 207 
Jesus questions Jews on baptism of, 

308 
Jonah, a prophecy of Jesus, 191 
Jordan (river) separates Galilee from 

Judea, 5 
John baptizes sinners in, 50 
Joseph (patriarch), place of burial 

of, 73 
Joseph (husband of Virgin Mary), 5 
goes to Bethlehem, 6 
warned by angel to take Jesus to 

Egypt. 17 
an angel tells him to return to 

Judea with Jesus, 21 



Joseph (husband of Virgin Mary) 
takes Jesus to Nazareth, 22 
a carpenter by trade, 2'J 
finds Jesus in the Temple question- 
ing the Rabbis, 38-41 
probably assisted by Jesus in car- 
pentry, 41 
Joseph (of Arimathea) helps place 

body of Jesus in sepulchre, 374 
Jot, definition of, 100 
Judas (son of James) chosen an Apos- 
tle by Jesus, 96 
questions Jesus, 339 
Judas Iscariot chosen an Apostle by 
Jesus, 96 
his betrayal foretold by Jesus, 181 
reproves Mary for anointing Jesus, 

296 
agrees to deliver Jesus to the Jews 
for thirty pieces of silver, 327-328 
designated by Jesus as his betray- 
er, 333 
departs from the Last Supper, 334 
betrays Jesus with a kiss, 348 
repents his crime, 354 
hangs himself, 355 
Judea divided from Galilee by Jor- 
dan, 5 
Judge, parable of unrighteous, 268 
Julias, Jesus restores sight of, 203 



Kedron (brook), 328 
valley of, 344 



Labor, wages of, 248 
Lamb. See Paschal lamb 
Last Supper (The), 331-344 
Lawyer (A) questions Jesus, 247 
Lawyers rebuked by Jesus, 193 
Lazarus and Dives, parable of, 263 
Lazarus (brother of Martha) restored 
to life, 281-284 

sits at table with Jesus, 296 
Leather, bottles made of, 144 
Leaven, parable of, 132 

sought for by Jews on eve of Pass- 
over, 328 
Lectern in synagogues, 81 
Leprosy in the East, 113 

healed by Elijah, 86 

healed by Jesus, 114. 287-288 
Levi tribe, priests taken from, 45 
Levites, Jewish name for priests, 45 
Leviticus first studied by Jewish chil- 
dren, 29 
Locusts used as food by the poor in 

the East, 49 
Lord's Prayer, 1S7-188 
Lot and destruction of Sodom, 267 
Luke, Jesus appears before, 384 



Magdala, Jesus goes to, 202 



IJSDEX, 



407 



Magi. See Wise men 

Magicians foretell future by stars, 1 

Malchus wounded in ear by Peter, 348 

wound healed by Jesus. 351 
Mammon, meaning of, 262 
Manna sent to the Jews, 179 
Marriage (The) at Cana, 62 
Jesus declares there will be none in 
the resurrection, 312 
Marriage-feast, parable of, 250 
Martha, Jesus visits, 273 
reproved by Jesus, 277 
her brother restored to life, 281- 

284 
Jesus goes to house of, 296 
Mary (mother of Jesus), angel fore- 
t3lls birth of Jesus to her, 5 
gives birth to Jesus, 6 
presents Jesus at Temple, 10 _ 
Simeon foretells manner of Jesus's 

death to her, 10-13 
finds Jesus in the Temple question- 
ing the Rabbis, 38-41 
at the marriage at Cana, 62 
her anxiety for Jesus, 191 
commended to care of John by Je- 
sus, 369 
Mary (sister of Martha), Jesus visits, 
273 
sits at feet of Jesus, 277 
her brother restored to life, 281-284 
anoints Jesus with precious oint- 
ment, 296 
Mary (wife of Cleophas) present at 

crucifixion, 369 
Mary Magdalene and Jesus, 124-128 
present at the crucifixion, 369 
at sepulchre of Jesus, 378 
finds two angels where Jesus had 

lain, 380 
Jesus appears before her and speaks 
to her, 383 
Matthew testifies to sympathy of 
Jesus, 91 
becomes a disciple of Jesus, 95 
chosen an Apostle, 96 
Jesus goes to house of, 143 
Messiah. See Jesus 
Micah foretells place of Jesus's birth, 

17 
Mint, tithing of, 192 
Miracles of Jesus : changing the wa- 
ter into wine, 62 
healing boy at Capernaum, 79 
casting out evil spirits, 91, 207-208 
healing Simon's wife's mother, 91 
the draught of fishes, 95, 391 
healing lepers, 114, 287-288 
healing centurion's servant, 114-116 
restoring the dead to life, 117-118, 

148, 281-284 
making the blind see, 118, 151, 203, 

236, 293 
healing the paralytic, 142 
curing the sick woman, 147 



Miracles of Jesus : making the dumb 
speak, 151, 201 
healing sick at pool of Bethesda, 158 
feeding the multitude, 170, 201 
walking on the sea, 172 
healing the sick at Gennesaret, 175 
making whole a withered hand, 186 
healing the demoniac, 189 
curing daughter of Syro-Phcenician 

woman, 200 
healing man with the dropsy, 250 
withering the fig-tree, 307 
healing wound of Malchus, 351 

Mite, value of, 312 

Money-changers driven from the 
Temple, 65-66 

Money-lender, parable of, 127 

Mordecai. 158 

Moriah (Mt. ) the site of the Temple, 30 

Moses, his commandment to lepers, 114 
a witness to Jesus, 162 
his prophecy of Jesus, 171-172 
seen with Jesus at the transfigura- 
tion, 206 

Mount. See names of mounts 

Mules used by the poor, 298 

Murder, commandment against, 278 

Mustard seed, parable of, 132 



Naaman, the Syrian, 86 
Nam, Jesus goes to, 116 
Nathaniel becomes a disciple of Jesus, 
61 

Jesus appears before, 388 
Nazareth, situation of, 5 

Jesus taken by Joseph to, 22 

life of Jesus at, 42 
Needle's eye, 279 
Net, parable of the, 135 
Nicodemus told by Jesus how to be 
saved, 69-70 

defends Jesus, 230 

helps embalm body of Jesus, 374 
Nineveh a witness against the Jews, 

191 
Noah and the flood, 267 



Ointment, Jesus anointed with pre- 
cious, 296 
Olives (Mt. of), Jesus ascends, 300 

Jesus returns to, 304 
Orientals, dress of, 195-196 



Palestine, its division into two parts 
by the Jordan, 5 

Palms borne by spectators of entry of 
Jesus into Jerusalem, 300 

Palms (City of), name given to Jeri- 
cho, 290 

Pan, the god of woods, 203 

Paneas, ancient name of Caesarea. 
Philippi, 203 



408 



INDEX. 



Parables, their use among the Jews, 

128 
Parables of Jesus : the money-lender, 
127 

the sower, 129 

the wheat and tares, 131 

the mustard seed, 132 

the leaven, 132 

the hidden treasure, 135 

the pearl, 135 

the net, 135 

new wine in old bottles, 144 

the rich man, 195 

the sheep-fold, 242 

the barren fig-tree, 245 

the good Samaritan, 248 

the marriage-feast, 250 

the great supper, 253 

the lost sheep, 254 

the lost piece of silver, 256 

the prodigal son, 257 

the unjust steward, 2(30 

Dive and Lazarus, 263 

the unrighteous judge, 268 

the Pharisee and the publican, 268 

the king and his servant, 270 

the vineyard, 280 

the pounds, 294 

the virgins, 320 

the talents, 323 

the vine, 340 
Parents, honoring, 182 
Paschaj lamb, 295 

how prepared for Passover, 328-331 
Passover, Feast of, 29, 65, 287, 331 
Patmos , John banished to, 395 
Paul, a witness to the help of Jesus, 

209 
Pearl, parable of, 135 
Penny, value of, 248 
Pentateuch studied by young Jewish 

children, 29 
Pentecost, 396 
Perea, Jesus teaches in, 247 
Perfumes in the East, 124 
Peter becomes a disciple of Jesus, 58 

seeks Jesus, 91 

healing of his wife's mother by 
Jesus, 91 

his amazement at draught of 
fishes, 95 & 

chosen an Apostle by Jesus, 96 

Jesus goes to house of, 141 

walks on the waters, 172 

asserts belief of Apostles in Jesus, 
181 

asks explanation of parable, 182 

questions Jesus, 196, 270, 279 

meaning of his name, 204 

declares Jesus to be the Son of God, 
204 

rebuked by Jesus, 205 

beholds transfiguration of Jesus, 206 

disciples jealous of, 209 

and the Temple tax, 214-215 



Peter sent by Jesus for a wild ass, 298 
speaks of the withered fig-tree, 307 
asks Jesus for a sign of his second 

advent, 320 
sent by Jesus to prepare Passover, 

331 
demurs at Jesus washing his feet, 332 
asks Jesus who is to betray him, 334 
his denial of Jesus foretold by him,. 

337, 347 
watches with Jesus, 347 
wounds servant's ear, 348 
reproved by Jesus, 348-351 
denies Jesus, 352 
a third time denies him, 354 
finds that Jesus is risen from the 

dead, 380 
Jesus appears before, 388 
thrice declares he loves Jesus, 392 
his death by crucifixion, 395 
Pharisee and publican, parable of, 268 
Pharisees wish John to baptize them, 

50 
their strictness, 57-58 
compare Jesus with John, 73 
teachings of Jesus against, 104 
jealous of Jesus, 128 
declare Jesus the prince of devils, 

151 
plot death of Jesus, 163, 186 
accuse Apostles of Sabbath-break 

ing, 183 
claim Jesus to be in league with 

Satan, 189 
their jealousy of publicans and sin- 
ners, 259 
mock Jesus, 262 
their hypocrisy exposed by Jesus, 

315 
See also Jews 
Philip becomes a disciple of Jesus, 61 
chosen an Apostle by Jesus, 96 
asked by Jesus how to feed the 

multitude, 170 
asked by Greeks who Jesus is, 303 
asks Jesus to show the Father, 338 
Phylacteries, meaning of, 316 
Pilate, Galileans quarrel with sol- 
diers of, 244 
Jesus led before, 354 
questions his accusers, 355 
questions Jesus, 356 
sends him to Herod, 357 
Jesus brought back to, 357 
releases Barabbas and sentences 

Jesus, 358 
seeks to free Jesus, 361 
delivers him over for crucifixion, 364 
refuses to alter inscription on cross 

of Jesus, 369 
orders legs of crucified broken, 373 
consents that Joseph take charge of 

body of Jesus, 374 
orders soldiers to guard tomb of 

Jesus, 378 



INDEX. 



409 



Pilgrimages to Passover Feast, 30 
Pool. See Bethesda, Siloam 
Pork, Jews forbidden to eat, 259 
Potter's Field bought with the thirty 

pieces of silver, 355 
Prayer, necessity of secret, 105 

answered by God, 189 

See also Lord's Prayer 
Prodigal son, parable of, 257 
Prophets studied by Jewish children, 

29 
Psalms learned by young Jews, 25 
Publican and Pharisee, parable of, 268 
Publicans, tax-collectors, 95 
Purim, Feast of, 157 



Fvabbis questioned by Jesus in the 
Temple, 38-41 

allowed to dwell in synagogues, 83 
Ransom, meaning of, 289 
Redeemer, Jesus our, 289 
Resurrection of Jesus, 379 
Revelation written by John, 395 
Riches, uselessness of, 195 

a hindrance to salvation, 279 
Roman dominion over the Jews, 1 
Royal Porch to the Temple, 37 
Rue, tithing, 192 



Sabbath, Mosaic law forbidding work 
on, 159 
how kept by Jews, 183 
Jesus discourses on, 184 
Jew.-, accuse Jesus of breaking, 239 
healing sick on, 249 
duration of, 373 
Sack-cloth worn to denote sorrow, 120 
Sacraments. See Baptism, Commun- 
ion 
Sacrifices. Jewish, 108 
Sadducees wish John to baptize 
them, 50 
their enmity to Jesus, 202 
disbelieve in a life after death, 315 
Salome demands head of John, 167 
Samaria, Jesus refused food and 

shelter in, 219 
Samaritan, parable of good, 248 
woman, Jesus reveals himself to, 
74-77 
Samaritans, hatred of Jews to, 73, 
234 
Jesus labors among, 74-78 
gratitude of, 288 
Sandals worn in the East, 123 
Sanhedrin (The), 70 
a court of law, 230 
power of, 353 

declares the disciples stole body of 
Jesus, 383 
Satan tempts Jesus, 53-54 
Schools among the Jews, 26 
Scourging, mode of, 358 



Scribes. See Pharisees 

Sermon on the Mount, 96-113 

Shechem. Joseph buried at, 73 

Sheep, parable of lost, 254 

Sheep-fold, parable of, 242 

Shekel, its value, 65 

Shepherds told by angel of birth of 

Jesus, 6-9 
visit Jesus and repeat words of 

shepherds, 9-10 
Sidon, wicked cities likened to, 120, 

221 
Jesus goes to, 198 
Sight restored to the blind. See 

Miracles 
Siloam (pool of), water brought 

from, 226 
Jesus bids blind wash in, 236 
Siloam, tower of, 245 
Silver, parable of lost piece of, 256 

value of thirty pieces of, 328 
Simeon visits Jesus, 10 
foretells the manner of his death to 

Mary, 10-13 
Simon Peter. See Peter 
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus bear his 

cross, 364 
Simon the leper, Jesus goes to house 

of, 296 
Simon the Pharisee visited by Jesus, 

123-127 
Simon (the zealot) chosen an Apostle 

by Jesus, 96 
Sin compared to leprosy, 114 
Sodom, destruction of, 267 
Solomon, Temple built by, 30-33 
Solomon's Porch to the Temple, 37 
Sower, parable of, 129 
Speech restored to the dumb. See 

Miracles 
Spikenard, oil made from, 296 
Spirit. See Holy Ghost 
Star of Bethlehem, its mention in the 

Old Testament, 1 
seen by the wise men, 14 
guides the wise men to Jesus, 17 
Stephen's Gate of the Temple, 38 
Steward, parable of unjust, 260 
Swine, Jesus drives evil spirit into, 140 

Jews forbidden to eat flesh of, 259 
Sychar, Jesus goes to, 73 
Synagogues, description of, 80-82 
Jew s punished by expulsion from, 

240 
Syro-Phcenician woman, Jesus heals 

daughter of, 200 



Tabernacle suggests plan of the Tem- 
ple, 33 
Tabernacles, Feast of, 216, 223-229 
Talents, parable of, 323 
Tares, parable of, 131-134 
Taxation, Jewish hatred of 3 95 
among Jews, 214 



410 



INDEX. 



Taxes, Jesus declares it right to pay, 

310 
Tetrarch, office of, 163 
Temple, Jesus presented at, 10 

building of, 30-38 

Jesus questions Rabbis in, 38-41 

Jesus drives money-changers from, 
65-66 

service in, 83 

See also Dedication 
Thieves crucified with Jesus, 369 
Thomas chosen an Apostle by Jesus, 
96 

accompanies Jesus to Judea, 282 

asks Jesus the way, 338 

convinced by Jesus he is risen, 387 

Jesus appears before, 388 
Tishri, a Jewish date, 223 
Tithes, payment of, 192 
Tittle, definition of, 100 
Tombs for the dead, 282 
Transfiguration of Jesus, 206 
Tribute-money paid to the Temple, 

65 
Tyre, wicked cities likened to, 120, 
221 

Jesus goes to, 198 



Vine, parable of, 340 

Vinegar offered Jesus on the cross, 

3(59 
Vineyard, parables of, 280, 308 



Virgins, parable of, 320 

Wages of laborers at time of Jesus, 

248 
Washing of hands, 181, 192 
Washing of feet in the East, 123, 127 

those of the Apostles washed by 
Jesus, 332 
Water changed into wine, 62 
Wealth. See Riches 
Wedding. See Marriage 
Wheat and tares, parable of, 131-134 

raised in the East, 183 
Whit-Sunday, 399 
Widow's mite, 311-312 
Wilderness, John dwells in, 49 

Jesus spends forty days in. 53 
Wine, water changed into, 62 

parable of, 144 
Wise men from the East visit Jesus, 

14-15 
Women required to attend Passover, 
29 

(court of), in the Temple, 230 



Zaccheus becomes a disciple of Jesus, 

290-293 
Zachariah, the birth of his son John 

foretold him by an angel, 45-46 
Zarephath, Elijah sent to, 86 
Zebedee's children, mother of, 288 
Zerubbabel builds new Temple, 33 
Zion Gate of the Temple, 38 






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